Charles Rowell

Charles Rowell (1852–1909) was an English athlete: a famous runner and celebrated exponent of the sport of pedestrianism race-walking.

[2] He was initially hired as a pacemaker for champion Edward Payson Weston, but went on to have his own career.

[2] He was particularly successful in the 6 Day Race of the "go-as-you-please" style where competitors could walk and/or run as they wished, and which featured as an annual competition between the US and UK from 1874 to 1888.

[1][2] In 1877 a trophy and substantial prize was created by Sir John Dugdale Astley, the Astley belt, for the greatest distance on an indoor track over 144 hours.

[1] The first time he covered 500 miles, the second 530 miles despite illness which meant he had to withdraw for eleven hours, but caught up with and overtook the others.