Pedestrianism was a 19th-century form of competitive walking, often professional and funded by wagering, from which the modern sport of racewalking developed.

Mar 26, 2025 · For others, pedestrianism was an appealing shortcut to fame or money in an era of expanding celebrity, an obscene gesture toward increasingly sedentary work life, or even a media boost. Joseph Pulitzer, in his time, “recognized the importance of a specialized sports section in his efforts to drive circulation,” writes Smith. For him, “[t ...

The meaning of PEDESTRIANISM is the practice of walking. the practice of walking; fondness for walking for exercise or recreation; the quality or state of being unimaginative or commonplace… See the full definition

Jul 28, 2021 · Pedestrianism was a sport of epic rivalries, eyewatering salaries, feverish nationalism, eccentric personalities and six-day, 450-mile walks. The race began, rather unusually, at 1:00 on...

Apr 3, 2014 · "Watching people walk was America's favorite spectator sport," Matthew Algeo says in his new book, Pedestrianism. "In the decades after the Civil War there was mass urbanization in the United...

Apr 1, 2014 · Professional pedestrians could walk for staggering distances. In 1876, the New York Times reported on one race: “A REMARKABLE TEST OF ENDURANCE--ONE THOUSAND MILES WALKED IN ONE THOUSAND...

Apr 5, 2014 · In 'Pedestrianism,' author Matthew Algeo details the history that led to America's fascination with watching other people walk. He joined Bill Littlefield to discuss the book.

Mar 28, 2025 · Pedestrian contests were predominantly between males, but also took place between females. Pedestrianism was the most popular sport in the USA from the 1830s up to the 1860s (when the Civil War began), and attracted top professional runners from England.

Aug 25, 2020 · Did you know that pedestrianism (aka long-distance racewalking) was an incredibly popular spectator sport during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries? On a par with running or horse racing, competitive walking was "funded" by wagering! In other words, epic walking was a betting sport.

Nov 15, 2024 · Including some of the greatest athletes you've never heard of… In my previous piece I explored the history of the pedometer and so it seemed natural to follow this up with the history of walking – or more specifically, the history of …