"Travelling to America, Walter George faced the top American miler Lon Myers over a series of three races in November 1882. A total of 130,000 attended these races at the Polo Grounds in New York City. In the first, Myers beat George 1:563⁄5 to 1:57 in the 880 yards. The next week, George led all the way in defeating his rival 4:212⁄5 to 4:273⁄5 in the mile. In the final 3/4 mile showdown, 60,000 watched George and Myers battle on a cold day on a bad track. George led narrowly with a 612⁄5 and 2:02¾ before Myers took the lead. But Myers staggered at the end and collapsed after crossing in 3:13 - behind George who won in 3:10½. Both fell unconscious after the race and George described it as "the most gruelling race I ever ran."With nothing more to prove in the amateur world, George turned professional in 1885 and challenged Cummings over the mile.The long-awaited mile challenge race was held on 31 August 1885 at Lillie Bridge, witnessed by some 30,000 spectators. Crowds of people angry they had been denied entry broke through the closed entry gates and ended up completely encircling the running track both inside and out.Cummings arrived at 5:30 pm and walked two laps of the track. George, caught in traffic, arrived shortly before 6:00 pm and climbed over the crowd with a ladder as the risk of injury pushing through the crowd was too great. Nevertheless, both runners had to force their way through the crowds with their handlers.Betting was heavy, with Cummings favoured over George. At the gun, George dashed ahead, with Cummings close behind, in a steady rain. Cummings, who had won the coin toss, had chosen the third-of-a-mile rectangular cinder track at the site over the favoured quarter-mile cycling track. At the quarter mile point of the race, hindered by the slow track with sharp corners, George led with 583⁄5, a torrid pace which the crowd enthusiastically cheered.But Cummings was close enough to be able to touch George's heels with his fingertips. At the half-mile point, they were at 2:01, and the crowd went delirious. At 1,000 yards, Cummings pulled even. At the three-quarter mark, George was at 3:07½, only half a second slower than the world record pace.Instead of slowing, George kept the pace, and Cummings struggled to keep up. Halfway through the final lap, Cummings gave up and started to walk, and since winning was the main concern today, George slowed to a walk when he was far enough ahead. Cummings, urged by his boosters, started to run again, which caused George to start to run again. He beat Cummings by some 65 yards in a time of 4:201⁄5, remarkably fast given his leisurely last lap."
Track was the biggest thing back in the 80s -
the 1880s.
130,000 spectators for a 4:21 mile?
These guys did close to zero training, and Walter George incredibly did 51:20 for 10 miles off of scarcely more than a glorified high knees drill.
George also ran 4:10.2 for a record that would stand from 1886 to 1931. Maybe the most talented guy ever.
Anyone who believes he was doping is incredibly cynical, all he had at his disposal would have been narcotics and some natural stimulants.
It's not quite a "universal truth" that doping is needed for popularity.