You can do. I have done it. I can run with an aspis, fence individually with it, punch with it. It can all be done, it’s just exhausting. But a 5th C. BC ekdromos was probably a lot more fit than I am.https://twitter.com/Verghast404/status/1262452292873117699 …
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From what I recall of my paleopathology days, the claim of lower levels of nutrition in the ancient world is often either overblown or misunderstood. Male children of the middle and upper classes, who would be expected to join the military later, were typically given better food.
Put Roth (1999)'s tables of Roman army nutrition (quite ample to avoid malnutrition!) against modern athletic diets. The Roman army diet hits the calorie numbers, but falls well short on protein and other nutrition (it's too carb heavy).
