5 THINGS ABOUT PLANKING RECORD.
Only George Hood’s forearms and toes touch the platform as he holds the rest of his body off the floor. It is an exercise called
planking. And he’s become addicted. “My plank is my best friend. Do I have a social life? No, not to speak of, because all
I do is train.”
1
FOCUS REDEFINED
The 62-year-old from Illinois didn’t look at the clock or even the time on the phone between his hands to control the music he was blaring. He took only periodic sips of water, and didn’t eat much. Eight hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds later, when he unclenched his thighs and arms, Hood had broken the Guinness world record for the men’s plank. The
previous record was 8:01:01.
2
IN A BUBBLE
A few months into his training, in December 2011, Hood broke the Guinness world record with a pose of an hour and 20 minutes. His addiction grew. “i would blow things off to get my planks in. It was like sugar.” It provided a kind of mental peace. “When I plank, I don’t have to sit in traffic. I don’t have to buy gas. I don’t have to listen to anyone complain about how tired they are. I just plank and that gives me all the satisfaction I need.”
3
PLANKING FOR THE TRUTH Planking has allowed him to work through personal issues. While talking mid-plank, either to himself or to others, he often gets ensconced in his emotions, which both distract him and fuel him to hold the pose longer. Part of his goal in setting this record was raising awareness for mental health, particularly among military and law enforcement officers.
4
JOB, WHAT JOB?
By 2014, Hood was ready to quit planking, but with another Guinness world record. As part of his 18-month preparation, he stuck to a strict regimen that took seven hours a day: 700 pushups, 2,000 crunches,
500 toe squats, 500 band curls, 30 minutes of cardio and four to five hours of planking.
5
MULLET INCLUDED? Then there’s the music: Van Halen, Ted Nugent, Deep Purple, Rammstein, all at earsplitting decibels to motivate him to hold the pose for longer than most people sleep at night. “I play it so loud I’m reliving a fantasy when I was in college, wanting to be rock star … singing to a crowd of 50,000. At least at this last event, for eight hours, 15 minutes, 15 seconds, I was the biggest rock
star that ever lived.”