Impressions of Northern Athletes and Athletics

Weather Conditions Athletics should not be practised under unfavourable weather, because the beneficial effects of the sport would be lost. To contract a severe chill when one would be anxious to keep fit, would be disconcerting and averse to real progress. These remarks apply specifically to those seasons in which we get only a transitory glimpse of the sun at intervals extending over three or four weeks! Expectations of Success The culpability of entertaining silly expectations in regard to success was previously emphasised, for he who would excel in and fully enjoy athletics must exercise patience. To have foolish ideas (as some humorists have) to the effect that proficiency should be acquired after some months’ practice would be grossly irrational. Therefore, the indispensability of perseverance is shown, and the following method of procedure advised, viz:- Adopt athletics at the beginning as an effectual preventive of disease, as being extremely beneficial to the faculties. Athletics are inadvisable for those who may be destitute of skill, and especially when the muscles are weak, flaccid, or rudimentary, when constitutional impotency is present, or when the athlete is very immature. 6 THE ATHLETE’S DIET John O’Groat Journal , Friday 18 October 1912 Next to air, food is the most necessary thing for the preservation of our bodies; and as the harmony of our temperament vitally depends on this, it is of much importance to understand in general what are the most nutritious and appropriate foods. With regard to the classification of the foods usually partaken of, they may be distinguished under two categories, namely, nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous. In order to derive full benefit from our diet, it is advisable to determine in what proportion nitrogenous and non- nitrogenous foods are to be mixed; because each class, when taken separately, cannot sustain life for very long. Hence our diet must contain at least one article of each class, to which must be added mineral salts and vegetable acids. The most appropriate form of diet, however, is that which contains proteids, starches, sugars, fats, acids, and salts. The proportion of the various elements of foods which constitute the dietary must vary according to the circumstances of the case. In the ordinary case there is generally a preponderance of non-nitrogenous foods; but in