The Englishman who went up a hill, and also a lot of other stuff

June 29, 2019 3:13 AM

"Wilson was well-known as a perambulator, a peregrinator, and a master of 'leg-ology.'" The engrossing tale of the man who captured a nation's heart by walking.
posted by smoke (6 comments total)

Wilson was not a typical athlete, by the standards of his or any other time. He was 5-foot-4 and weighed just over 120 pounds. He had short, bowed legs and small feet. His thighs were “awkwardly hung together,” and his arms were “rather disproportionately long.” He walked with a short, shuffling step.

He would not be cast for the role today.
posted by Bee'sWing at 6:42 AM on June 29, 2019

He walked until his toenails fell off.
posted by pracowity at 6:48 AM on June 29, 2019

I dunno, Bee'sWing, Cliff Young could almost have been his double.
posted by scruss at 10:06 AM on June 29, 2019

Cliff Young could almost have been his double.
Both of these guys would be justified in saying "kids today have gone soft."
posted by Bee'sWing at 11:06 AM on June 29, 2019

He walked until his toenails fell off.

This is a bit of derail, but this is surprisingly easy to do. I've lost all of mine twice and I don't walk anywhere near the distances this man walked.
posted by frumiousb at 9:19 PM on June 29, 2019 [1 favorite]

Frumious, did it hurt? Or did you just shed them?
posted by Countess Elena at 6:36 AM on June 30, 2019