What then of the rest of us?
Footman. What springs to mind when you read that word?
We will all have heard of some medieval king or lord who will have had servants to do his bidding – some of these called footmen. The job of these blokes (and I use the masculine term not to get into any trouble with female readers, but just because it is a fact that these people were male) was to run alongside the king’s carriage and to be on hand should he need anything or wish to get out of the vehicle.
Aside from this, they were also used to deliver messages on foot from their master to other people. These messages ranged from invitations to parties to orders to generals on a battlefield. The ability to deliver with speed was highly prized. In fact during the 1700s and 1800s, the gentry began to use their footmen in a manner that was to form the foundations of long distance running (pedestrianism) by pitting them against each other over a set distance and wager. The skills of the most fleet of foot were in high demand and these individuals were traded for large sums between rivals (slavery still being legal in those days).
Apart from the obvious issue of slavery and being beholden to work for a particular individual, were one being paid, then for any long distance freak this would be the ultimate job in the modern world. Who would not like to be outside running around the city delivering letters and parcels? I know you are going to say that we already have this facility to an extent in the form of bicycle messengers and couriers, but being a runner I am biased and think that thought should also be given to our sport in this respect. – Sean Muller
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