Jim Elwell wrote:
>If I recall, the standard stride was 30" (76 cm).

The standard pace in the US and UK military is still
defined as 30 inches. Non-standard paces include 24
and 36 inches.

Standard pace in Australia is 75 cm. Non-standard
paces include 50, 60 and 67.5 cm.


>It was MURDER on us short-legged guys trying
>to keep up.  24" (61 cm) is much more comfortable.

As you say, each person has a different pace. Many
people (in military and non-military domains around
the world) are taught to measure distance by counting
their own calibrated paces. See:
https://atiam.train.army.mil/soldierPortal/atia/adlsc/view/public/5161-1/accp/is0788/lsn3.htm


>I've always heard it was the distance from
>the King's nose to the tips of the fingers on 
>his outstretched arm.

Like many stories, it may be half true.

****************************
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/custom.html

"William of Malmsebury wrote that the yard was "the
measure of his [the king's] own arm," thus launching
the story that the yard was defined to be the distance
from the nose to the fingertip of Henry I. In fact,
both the foot and the yard were established on the
basis of the Saxon ynce, the foot being 36 barleycorns
and the yard 108."
****************************

Terry


                
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