6 day walk
This article is about racewalking category. Wikipedia page 6 Day Race page is about running category.
This article is updated translation of Spanish Wikipedia page "6 días marcha" [1].
6 day walk is a long-distance athletic racewalking event that was first contested in the late 19th century.[1] It is a test of walker's endurance, physical and mental preparation, strategy and support. Sleep deprivation becomes significant during the second part of the race. The best walkers can be moving more than 115 hours during the 144 hour race with walking speed of 6.5 - 7.5 km/h (8:00-9:15 min/km, 13:00-15:00 min / mile). Competitors in a 6 day walk have to follow two adjusted racewalk rules: keep visible contact with the ground for all time (at least one foot on the ground) and supporting leg in vertical position needs to have reasonably straight knee.
Origin and history
The origin of the 6 day walk must be granted to the solo attempts of Edward Payson Weston to walk 500 miles (804 km) in less than six days, the maximum period of time that a person could dedicate to an activity without breaking the Sunday precept. After several failures, Weston achieved his goal at Newark's Washington St. Rink in December 1874. His time (although there are different versions) was 5 days 23 hours and 38 minutes. A total of 6,000 spectators, including the mayor and the police chief, were present.
The following year, in September, another walker, Daniel O'Leary tried to emulate Weston at Chicago's West Rink. He failed to beat Weston's mark (in fact, he exceeded the limit in eleven hours) but thereby succeeded in forcing a confrontation between the two.
Weston vs. O'Leary[2]
The first six-day walking competition was held in Chicago from November 15 to 20, 1875. Although Weston was initially very reluctant to take up the challenge, accusing his rival of still being "very green," he eventually gave in to the popular pressure. The track, just over 200 meters, was divided into two parallels, so that Weston and O'Leary never met side by side. Weston walked the inside track and O'Leary walked the outside. Finally, after 144 hours of walking, O'Leary won, traveling 810 km (503⅛ miles) for 726.7 km (451 4/7 miles) of his rival, which led him to proclaim himself "world champion".
Both walkers disputed the rematch in London from April 2, 1877. The event was held at the Royal Agricultural Hall and during the six days, more than 70,000 spectators passed through the venue, after paying the corresponding entrance fee. Each walker had to collect £ 500 and the winner also took two-thirds of the profit. The winner was again O'Leary, who this time covered a total of 836.4 km (almost 520 miles), by 820.7 km (510 miles) of Weston.
As O'Leary continued to proclaim himself world champion despite having only beaten Weston, Sir John Astley, a well-known athlete (he was a former sprinter) and Member of Parliament, decided to sponsor a true world championship that would bring together the best long-distance athletes from both shores of the Atlantic. Likewise, and since the judgment of the heel and toe rule caused some problems - Weston's style was considered somewhat doubtful - Astley decided that the competitions would be held under the go as you please rule, allowing the athletes to run during them.[3] This meant the practical disappearance of the exclusive 6-day walk race, since although all of them continued to be commonly known as walking matches, very few were held under the heel and toe rule.
The 1879 world championship
In May 1879, what the organizers called the Six Day World Championship was held at Gilmore's Garden in New York. To differentiate it from the Astley Belt, which, like a world championship go as you please, had been held there two months ago, it was established that the rules of this competition would be those of the old heel and toe: "no running is to be allowed". The race, then, was on the walk.
The regulations established that participants had to pay $100 when registering. If they exceeded 425 miles, those $100 would be returned to them. And they would be awarded 50 more if they exceeded 450 miles. Regardless of this, the winner would receive a prize of 1,000 dollars, the second $750, the third $500 and the fourth $250. Also, the winner would receive a belt that would recognize him as world champion and that according to the organizers was valued at another $1,000.
The participants
The registered walkers were: 1.- Fred Krohne; 2.- AJ Byrne (Buffalo, NY); 3.- George Guyon (CAN - Chicago IL); 4.- John P. Colston (SWE-Hoboken); 5.- Caleb Washigton (Wilkesbarre, PEN); 6.- Thomas Noden (Brooklyn, NY); 7.- Peter Napoleón Campana (Bridgeport, CON); 8.- TK Stark (CON); 9-. John Cotton (London, GBR); 10.- J. Rand Kent (BEL); 11.- Joseph Gibbs (Toronto, CAN); 12.- CFForrester (London, GBR); 13.- WH Davis (Chicago, IL); 14.- Charles Faber (Newark, NY); 15.- Fred Uran; 16.- B. Curran (Chicago, IL). Gibbs and Noden were not finally in the race.
Each of the participants was assigned and set up a booth in an area of the venue free of the smoke from the spectators' cigars. In each booth, which was separated from the adjoining one by thick canvases, a bed and the necessary equipment for the walker's hygiene were placed. The provisioning of the walkers were at their own expense. The chief judge (referee) for the competition was William B. Curtis. The remaining judges were members of the Harlem Athletic Club. The start took place at 0:05 hours on May 5 before 1,500 spectators.
The results
| P. | Athlete | Nationality | Miles | Km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Guyon |  Canada |
480 ¼ | 772,890 |
| 2 | Frederick Krohne |  United States |
461 | 742.0 |
| 3 | John P. Colston |  Sweden |
452 ⅕ | 727.5 |
| 4 | Charles Faber | United States |
450 ⅛ | 724.6 |
| 5 | Ben Curran | United States |
438 ¼ | 705.1 |
| 6 | Peter N. Campana | United States |
401 ⅓ | 645.8 |
| 7 | W.H. Davis | United States |
225 | 362.1 |
Partial classifications:
- At 24 hours: Guyon 169km; Faber 161km; Byrne 153; Washington 150.5; Krohne 146.4; Bell 138.4; Colston 132; Curran 128.7; Urann 125.5; Kent 120.7; Forrester 108.6; Davis 96.5. Retired: Cotton (96.5km) and Stark (83.7km).
- At 48 hours: Guyon 300.9km; Faber 286.4km; Krohne 276.8; Bell 265.5; Washington 159; Curran 256; Colston 241; Kent 228; Forrester 190; Davis 164. Retired: Byrne (167km) and Urann.
- At 72 hours: Guyon 429.7km; Krohne 408.7km; Faber 402; Bell 380; Colston 364; Curran 360; Washington 343; Kent 340; Davis 244.
- At 96 hours: Guyon 555.2km; Krohne 539km; Faber 505; Colston 483; Curran 476; Bell 470; Davis 302.
George Littlewood's record 855,180 km
In a 6-day race held between November 6 and 11, 1882, at the Drill Hall in Sheffield, England, George Littlewood covered a total of 855,180 km fair heel and toe style. It is the world's oldest walking record that is still in force. The previous record was held, since 1881, by the American Charles Harriman, who in a competition held at the Exposition Building in Chicago had covered exactly one mile less - 853.570 km. At Sheffield, Littlewood equaled Harriman's record with two hours remaining until 144 hours. Then he did one last mile in 9:17 minutes and then left the track.[4][5]
Known partial distances: 241.4 km (30:36 hrs), 321.9 (40:45 hrs), 643.7 (96:50 hrs), 804.7 (130:36 hrs).
The 72 hours
The 6-day test was also done in the 72-hour mode (6 x 12 hours). Usually the walkers competed from eleven in the morning until eleven at night. In this modality, the best known result belongs to the Canadian George Guyon, who walked a total of 356 miles (572.9 km) in a race held in the American city of Buffalo between May 31 and June 5, 1880.
The 6 days walk in modern history
The first modern 6-day race with the participation of walkers was held in the North American city of Pennsauken in June 1981. In it Bob Marshall set the first world record of the event with 449,407 km.
Since then, 6-day events have been held with the participation of walkers in Australia (Colac), Great Britain (Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent), France (Antibes, Le Luc en Provence and Privas), Greece (Athens), Italy (Pignola de Basilicata). Hungary (Balatonfüred) and South Africa (Pretoria, Randburg, Hekpoort, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg), as well as in the North American cities of El Cajon, Chula Vista, San Diego, Boulder and Phoenix. It should also be noted that the events organized annually in Queens (New York) by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Club (5 days, 7 days, 700 miles, 1,000 miles, 1,300 miles ...) have sporadically counted with the presence of walkers.
Between 2009 and 2012, a 6-day races with official walking category was held in Antibes (France). In the four editions held to date, the winners were Bernardo José Mora (2009 and 2012), Alain Grassi (2010) and Dominique Naumowicz (2011) in the men's category, and Simone Niclass (2009), Josiane Pannier (2010), Nicoleta Mizera (2011) and Martina Haussman (2012). Pannier and Mizera both set world records with 556,575 and 616,025 km, respectively. The race was recognized as official by the French Athletics Federation the following year and is currently the only official 6-day walk race in the world. In 2013 the competition moved to the neighboring town of Le Luc, with Bernardo José Mora and Sylviane Varin as winners. The following year it was the town of Privas that hosted the competition, now under the nickname of 6 days of France. The winners were Christian Mauduit and Claudine Anxionnat. In the 2015 edition, the French Dominique Bunel broke the world record for the distance by walking 752,271 km, beating the historic record of the Irishman John Dowling, established in Stoke-on-Trent in 1984, of 744,176 km. In the female category, the triumph corresponded to the also French Josiane Pannier.
6 day world record: Dominique Bunel 752,271 km, Ivo Majetic 786,744 km[6]
The French walker Dominique Bunel broke the world record of the event during the 6 days of France held in the city of Privas from August 2 to 8, 2015 with 752,271 km. During this walk, Bunel walked 500 km in 90:20:13 hours.
Partial: 160,3 km (24 hrs); 287,4 km (48 hrs); 410,4 km (72 hrs); 527,250 km (96 hrs); 638,975 km (120 hrs). 500 km in 90:20:13 hours.
In May 3–9, 2018 in Balatonfüred (Hungary), in an unofficial walking race, Ivo Majetic (USA/Czech Republic) improved Dominic Bunel's record by 34 km to 786,744 km. During his walk, Majetic walked 500km in 84:01:23 hours, the best 500km split time during a 6-day race. World record for 500km walk is held by Zbigniew Klapa from Poland who walked 521km in 62:53h (including 4 hours of obligatory breaks) during Paris-Colmar June 3–6, 1999.
Partial: 133.1 km (24 hrs); 291.6 km (48 hrs); 428.2 km (72 hrs); 554.9 km (96 hrs); 676.0 km (120 hrs). 500 km in 84:01:23 hours.
Female records: Sylvie Tortey with 636,921 km, Yolanda Holder 665,183 km[7]
The best result achieved in an official walking race belongs to the French Sylvie Tortey with 636,921 km. She achieved this record in Vallon Pont d'Arc in France in May 7-13, 2022.
The North American walker Yolanda Holder established during a race held in Milwaukee (USA) between August 25-31 2019 the best unofficial record of the 6 days with 665,183 km.
Partial: 160,974 km (24 hrs); 218.623 km (48 hrs); 322.392 km (72 hrs); 439.020 km (96 hrs); 548.554 km (120 hrs). 500 km in 110:24:30 hours.
8 and 10 day trials
In addition to 6-day events, various 8- and 10-day competitions have been held on an irregular basis in different parts of the world. The main of these tests is held in New York, although it does not usually have walkers among its participants. The best men's world record of the 10 days is held by Irishman John Dowling with 1,005,437 km (Hull, 26/7-5/8 1986). In the female category, the record belongs to the North American Yolanda Holder with 1001,012 km (New York, 19-29 / 4 2016).
Regarding the 8-day tests, the best mark achieved to date is the 806,281 km of the North American Yolanda Holder (New York, 19-27/4 2016).
6-day world ranking *
Male
| Mark | Athlete | Nationality | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 786,744 km | Ivo Majetic | United States
|
Balatonfüred | May 9, 2018 |
| 752,271 km | Dominique Bunel |  France
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
| 744,176 km | John "Paddy" Dowling |  Ireland
|
Stoke-on-Trent | May 26, 1984 |
| 710,060 km | Christian Mauduit | France
|
Privas | October 25, 2014 |
| 703,133 km | Daniel Duboscq | France
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
| 701,892 km | Alain Grassi | France
|
Antibes | June 12, 2010 |
| 687,189 km | Robert Davidson | United States
|
Boulder | January 2, 1985 |
| 667,357 km | Richard McChesney |  New Zealand
|
Vallon Pont d'Arc | May 7-13, 2022 |
| 665,225 km | Dominique Naumowicz | France
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| 658,506 km | Louis Thiriot | France
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
| 651,180 km | Bob Wise | United States
|
Boulder | January 4, 1985 |
| 650,123 km | Philippe Clement | France
|
Privas | August 26, 2017 |
| 649,079 km | Christophe Biet | France
|
Privas | October 29, 2016 |
| 643,183 km | Patrick Cailleaux | France
|
Privas | October 29, 2016 |
| 641,773 km | Bernardo Jose Mora |  Spain
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| 622,570 km | Gerald Manderson | New Zealand
|
Colac | November 20, 1999 |
| 601,203 km | Dominique Bert | France
|
Privas | August 26, 2017 |
| 582,539 km | Jacques Moutier | France
|
Privas | August 26, 2017 |
| 581,411 km | Jean Wallaeys | France
|
Privas | October 25, 2014 |
| 581,198 km | Philippe Emoniere | France
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| 580,550 km | Roger Betaille | France
|
Privas | October 25, 2014 |
| 575,354 km | Stéphane Pallé | France
|
Le Luc | May 13, 2013 |
| 574,535 km | Method Istvanik | United States
|
Sacrament | January 4, 1991 |
Female
| Mark | Athlete | Nationality | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 665,183 km | Yolanda Holder | United States
|
Milwaukee | August 31, 2019 |
| 636.921 km | Sylvie Tortey | France
|
Vallon Pont d'Arc | May 7, 2022 |
| 627,592 km | Claudie Bizard | France
|
Privas | August 26, 2017 |
| 620,276 km | Claudine Anxionnat | France
|
Privas | October 25, 2014 |
| 616,025 km | Nicoletta Mizera |  Italy
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| 607,724 km | Martina Haussman |  Germany
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| 556,575 km | Josiane Pannier | France
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| 544,692 km | Sylviane Varin | France
|
Le Luc | May 13, 2013 |
| 525,000 km | Petro Kritzinger |  South Africa
|
Randburg | March 29, 2003 |
| 509,401 km | Sabrina Freeyburger | France
|
Privas | August 26, 2017 |
| 498,896 km | Sarama Minoli | United States
|
New York | September 29, 1989 |
| 477,430 km | Severine Guerin | France
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
| 450,543 km | Karen Laurie |  Isle of Man
|
Privas | 25 Aug, 2018 |
| 449,271 km | Françoise Arnaut | France
|
Privas | August 26, 2017 |
| 448,170 km | Deborah De Williams |  Australia
|
Colac | November 27, 2004 |
| 427,000 km | Linda Engeelbrecht | South Africa
|
Hekpoort | April 1, 2010 |
| 427,000 km | Corrie Spies | South Africa
|
Hekpoort | April 1, 2010 |
| 425,000 km | Sharon Calitz | South Africa
|
Hekpoort | April 4, 2009 |
| 424,740 km | Simone Blanc | France
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| 416,010 km | Elizabeth Thanron-Lescure | France
|
Privas | October 29, 2016 |
| 414,801 km | Suzanne Beardsmore |  United Kingdom
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
| 401,127 km | Catherine Dubois D'Enghein | France
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
(*) Official and unofficial results
World record progression
Male
| Mark | Athlete | Nationality | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 449,407 km | Bob Marshall | United States
|
Pennsauken | June 27, 1981 |
| 503,222 km | Dale Sutton | United States
|
Chula Vista | August 2, 1982 |
| 646,272 km | John "Paddy" Dowling | Ireland
|
Nottingham | August 28, 1982 |
| 741,212 km | John "Paddy" Dowling | Ireland
|
Nottingham | August 6, 1983 |
| 744,176 km | John "Paddy" Dowling | Ireland
|
Stoke on trent | May 26, 1984 |
| 752,271 km | Dominique Bunel | France
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
| 786,744 km | Ivo Majetic | United States
|
Balatonfüred | May 9, 2018 |
Female
| Mark | Athlete | Nationality | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 448,170 km | Deborah De Williams | Australia
|
Colac | November 27, 2004 |
| 473,972 km | Josiane Pannier | France
|
Antibes | June 12, 2010 |
| 616,025 km | Nicoletta Mizera | Italy
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| 643,979 km | Yolanda Holder | United States
|
Anchorage | August 10, 2014 |
| 646,336 km | Yolanda Holder | United States
|
Fort Lauderdale | November 22, 2015 |
| 648,749 km | Yolanda Holder | United States
|
Phoenix | January 3, 2016 |
| 660,594 km | Yolanda Holder | United States
|
Glendale | January 3, 2017 |
| 665,183 km | Yolanda Holder | United States
|
Milwaukee | August 31, 2019 |
National records
Male
| Country | Mark | Athlete | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States
|
786,744 km | Ivo Majetic | Balatonfüred | May 9, 2018 |
| France
|
752,271 km | Dominique Bunel | Privas | August 8, 2015 |
| Ireland
|
744,176 km | John "Paddy" Dowling | Stoke-on-Trent | May 26, 1984 |
| New Zealand
|
667,357 km | Richard McChesney | Vallon Pont d'Arc | May 7, 2022 |
| Spain
|
641,773 km | Bernardo Jose Mora | Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
 Russia
|
547,177 km | Sergei Lukyanov | New York | April 23, 2018 |
| Australia
|
540,000 km | Peter Waddell | Colac | November 22, 1997 |
 Czech Republic
|
536,153 km | Jaroslav Prückner | Antibes | June 9, 2012 |
| Sweden
|
531,976 km | Christer Svensson | Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
 Japan
|
510,258 km | Seigi Arita | Privas | August 26, 2017 |
 Hungary
|
493,397 km | Zoltan Czukor | Antibes | June 12, 2010 |
 Lebanon
|
425,152 km | Gwynplaine Hakimniktou | Pantano di Pignola | July 12, 2014 |
| United Kingdom
|
417,888 km | Ian Statter | Abingdon-on-Thames | Aug 17, 2013 |
| South Africa
|
355,284 km | Sarel Jacobs | Praetorship | January 1, 2013 |
 Belgium
|
258,181 km | Jacques Flament | Antibes | June 12, 2010 |
Female
| Country | Mark | Athlete | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States
|
665,183 km | Yolanda Holder | Milwaukee | August 31, 2019 |
| France
|
624,339 km | Claudie Bizard | Privas | August 26, 2017 |
| Italy
|
616,025 km | Nicoletta Mizera | Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| Germany
|
607,724 km | Martina Haussman | Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| South Africa
|
525,000 km | Petro Kritzinger | Randburg | March 29, 2003 |
| Australia
|
448,170 km | Deborah De Williams | Colac | November 27, 2004 |
| United Kingdom
|
414,801 km | Suzanne Beardsmore | Privas | August 9, 2015 |
 Switzerland
|
266,184 km | Simone Niclass | Antibes | June 9, 2012 |
Records by age category (WMA)
Male
| Category | Mark | Athlete | Birth date. | Nationality | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M35 | 710,060 km | Christian Mauduit | 9.6.75 | France
|
Privas | October 25, 2014 |
| M40 | 532,336 km | Bernabé Rodríguez Sibaja | 25.2.68 | Spain
|
Antibes | June 13, 2009 |
| M45 | 786,744 km | Ivo Majetic | 21.6.68 | United States
|
Balatonfüred | June 9, 2018 |
| M50 | 744,176 km | John "Paddy" Dowling | 15.6.29 | United Kingdom
|
Stoke on trent | May 26, 1984 |
| M55 | 622,000 km | Gerald Manderson | 11.11.43 | New Zealand
|
Colac | November 20, 1999 |
| M60 | 703,133 km | Daniel Duboscq | 16.8.54 | France
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
| M65 | 658,506 km | Louis Thiriot | 17.3.50 | France
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
| M70 | 517,196 km | Yves Rabreau | 25.6.42 | France
|
Le Luc | May 13, 2013 |
| M75 | 482,539 km | Stan Miskin | 31.7.25 | Australia
|
Colac | November 22, 2003 |
| M80 | 429,600 km | Stan Miskin | 31.7.25 | Australia
|
Colac | November 26, 2005 |
Female
| Category | Mark | Athlete | Birth date. | Nationality | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W35 | 448,170 km | Deborah Williams | 10.9.69 | Australia
|
Colac | November 27, 2004 |
| W40 | 509,491 km | Sabrina Freyburger | 0.0.75 | France
|
Privas | August 26, 2017 |
| W45 | 616,025 km | Nicoletta Mizzera | 20.9.64 | France
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| W50 | 607,724 km | Martina Haussman | 13.11.60 | Germany
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| W55 | 660,594 km | Yolanda Holder | 8.5.58 | United States
|
Glendale | January 3, 2017 |
| W60 | 665,183 km | Yolanda Holder | 8.5.58 | United States
|
Milwaukee | August 31, 2019 |
| W65 | 424,740 km | Simone Blanc | 11.11.43 | France
|
Antibes | June 11, 2011 |
| W70 | 338,103 km | Kathy Crilley | 9.9.47 | United Kingdom
|
Privas | Aug 25, 2018 |
| W75 | 266,184 km | Simone Niclass | 25.4.34 | Switzerland
|
Antibes | June 9, 2012 |
| W80 | 177,793 km | Simone Niclass | 25.4.34 | Switzerland
|
Privas | August 8, 2015 |
References
- ↑ "The History of the 6 Day Race by Andy Milroy". William Sichel. 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- ↑ "Weston v O Leary – 1877". web.archive.org. 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
- ↑ "Pedestrianism and the struggle for the Astley Belt". web.archive.org. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ↑ "George Littlewood: Is This The Hardest LAD You've Never Heard Of?". www.ladbible.com. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ↑ "GEORGE LITTLEWOOD – THE SHEFFIELD FLYER" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "DUV - Ivo Majetic".
- ↑ "DUV - Yolanda Holder".
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