One of America's First Spectator Sports Was Professional Walking
Briefly

The explosion of walking groups in the United States highlights a significant change in social dynamics, as diverse fitness personalities encourage participation from those who historically had reasons to stay away from walking as a leisure activity.
Professional walking in the 1860s emerged from a unique cultural moment, highlighting how pedestrianism once captivated American audiences and served as an early example of fitness branding before such concepts were mainstream.
Read at Smithsonian Magazine
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