Foster Powell (1734–15 April 1793) was the first notable exponent of long-distance walking known as pedestrianism and has been called "the first English athlete of whom we have any record". Powell started the focus on walking/running for six days and is considered the "Father of the Six-Day Race".
Powell was baptized in Horsforth in 1734, and moved to London in 1762 where he worked as a lawyer's clerk. In 1764 he began his pedestrian career by wagering that he could walk 50 miles in 7 hours, which he accomplished on the Bath Road. He became a national celebrity, but made very little money from walking, which he treated as a hobby, and died in relative poverty at the age of 59 on 15 April 1793. He was buried at St Faith's Church in St Paul's Cathedral Churchyard, after a walking funeral procession.
Powell had experience walking long distances as early as circa 1771, when he walked about from London to York and back to get a lease signed in less than six days.
In 1773, Powell accepted a wager to walk the same route within six days again. He left Hicks Hall at 12:19 PM on 29 November 1773 and reached York at 2:30 AM on 31 November. He arrived back at Hicks Hall at 6:30 PM on 4 December 1773. On his return, about 3,000 people accompanied him from Highgate into London, and he won a bet of approximately ã100 ().
He committed to repeat the same feat thirteen years later in 1785.
In 1788, Powell walked 100 miles in 21 hours 35 minutes. He also ran 2 miles in 10 minutes.
In November 1789, Powell attempted to run one mile in less than 5 minutes and 20 seconds for a ã20 wager.
In 1790 at over 55 years old, Powell walked 394 miles in 136 hours and 13 minutes, just one hour and 47 minutes under the time allotted to him to win a bet.
In September 1790, Powell was crowned at Astley's Amphitheatre to recognize his achievements. The crowning was done to resemble Roman victory celebrations.