ace was the oldest of the Greek institutions, and in the
first of the Olympiads the "dromos," a course of about 200 yards, was
the only contest; but gradually the "dialos," in which the course was
double that of the dromos, was introduced, and, finally, tests of
endurance as well as speed were instituted in the long-distance races
and the contests of racing in heavy armor, which were so highly
commended by Plato as preparation for the arduous duties of a soldier.
Among the Greeks we read of Lasthenes the Theban, who vanquished a
horse in the course; of Polymnestor, who chased and caught a hare; and
Philonides, the courier of Alexander the Great, who in nine hours
traversed the distance between the Greek cities Sicyone and Elis, a
distance of over 150 miles. We read of the famous soldier of Marathon,
who ran to announce the victory to the Magistrates of Athens and fell
dead at their feet. In the Olympian games at Athens in 1896 this
distance (about 26 miles) was traversed in less than three hours.

It is said of Euchidas, who carried the fire necessary for the
sacrifices which were to replace those which the Persians had spoiled,
that he ran a thousand stadia (about 125 miles) and fell dead at the
end of his mission. The Roman historians have also recited the
extraordinary feats of the couriers of their times. Pliny speaks of an
athlete who ran 235 kilometers (almost 150 miles) without once
stopping. He also mentions a child who ran almost half this distance.

In the Middle Ages the Turks had couriers of almost supernatural
agility and endurance. It is said that the distance some of them would
traverse in twenty-four hours was 120 miles, and that it was common for
them to make the round trip from Constantinople to Adrianople, a
distance of 80 leagues, in two days. They were dressed very lightly,
and by constant usage the soles of their feet were transformed into a
leathery consistency. In the last century in the houses of the rich
there were couriers who preceded the carriages and were known as
"Basques," who could run for a very long time without apparent fatigue.
In France there is a common proverb, "Courir comme un Basque." Rabelais
says: "Grand-Gousier depeche le Basque son laquais pour querir
Gargantua en toute hate."

In the olden times the English nobility maintained running footmen who,
living under special regimen and training, were enabled to traverse
unusual distances without apparent fatigue. There is an