"Walk This Way" (lateral thinking puzzler)

[soxfan[$]]

A new puzzle, again from Paul Sloane's "Lateral Thinking Puzzlers":

Johann Hurlinger, an Austrian, set a world record by walking the 871 miles from Vienna to Paris in 55 days. He averaged only 1.5 miles per hour and he did it in 1900, yet the record stands today. What is so special about it?

[theworm[$]]

Did Johann have any physical handicaps?

[jgibson2[$]]

Did he walk on his hands?

[CurtisEdmonds]

If he walked backwards, he doesn't hold the record.

[eplovejoy]

Unless someone has already guessed it, is it too early to start asking questions?

If not, is the math important? It doesn't seem to be.

If it is too early, it's all theworm's fault. She started it.

[theworm[$]]

It's not too early for questions, but apparently it's still a bit early for answers.

[soxfan[$]]

Did Johann have any physical handicaps? No.

Unless someone has already guessed it, is it too early to start asking questions? It's never too early.

If not, is the math important? It doesn't seem to be. No.

If it is too early, it's all theworm's fault. She started it. That's all right. She's forgiven.

Did he walk on his hands? Yes! Nice going, Judy. You guys are getting too good at these. :thumbs:

[theeye]

Did he climb the Alps in the process?

[CurtisEdmonds]

A distant relative of mine holds the backwards-walking record; some Indian guy is trying to break it:

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/l...0400340200.htm

[eplovejoy]

Well done, Judy.

Now the question that remains is: Has the record stood because no one has tried to break it or because there are some records that are too silly to be challenged even by those desperate to get their names in the record books?