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.

Charles Rowell, 1879