The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920Various
General
The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920
Various
English literature -- Periodicals; London (England) -- Periodicals
The book begins very properly with a tribute of respect to athletes
who have fallen in the war; then chapters follow on running, jumping,
hurdling, and throwing weights of all descriptions; there are also
chapters on diet, massage, and clothing, and an appendix on leg
exercises. The book is illustrated with admirable photographs, but
it is a pity that these are not placed more in accordance with the
text. The chapter on "Hurdling" is among the best. The hurdler must
be "tall, fairly slim, and well 'split up,'" which being interpreted
means that his height must be contained in his legs rather than in his
body. He must build up the strength of his legs by special exercises,
such as high kicking, the splits, and skipping; and there is yet
another admirable exercise--the athlete, in a sitting position, puts
himself into the attitude of a hurdler topping a hurdle, the left leg
is stretched straight out, the right leg is at right angles to it, the
knee is bent and the inside of the leg is resting on the ground. The
exercise consists in raising the body so that only the left heel and
the inner side of the right calf are resting on the ground. It is a
most painful and excellent exercise.
We are glad to see that in the chapter on diet athletes are warned
against an excess of meat; one good meat meal a day is all that is
recommended. Meat, besides its nourishment, contains many poisonous
substances which are with difficulty eliminated from the system. Many
a good athlete has been wasted through inattention to this fact. The
chapter on massage is to our mind inadequate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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