91: Six-Day Race Part 1: The Birth (1773-1870)

The six-day event has roots in the ultrarunning sport going back nearly 250 years.

Ultrarunners who exclusively run trails may wonder, “what is this six-day race and why is it important?” The six-day race is an event to see how far you can run or walk in a period of 144 hours or six days on roads, tracks, or trails. The first famous British “pedestrian,” Foster Powell started the focus on walking/running for six days and can be considered the “Father of the Six-Day Challenge.”