George Hood doesn’t believe in doing anything halfway.
Not when he was an officer in the United States Marine Corps in the 1980s.
Nor during his decades in federal service as an investigative officer for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
And certainly not in the past decade of “retirement” – in which the 63-year-old endurance athlete and personal trainer has focused on setting world records in feats of strength linked to the sport. fitness and endurance.
In February 2020, he made headlines by setting the Guinness World Record for the longest board: eight hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds. About 10 days after setting that record, he was still recovering, telling CNBC he was in “excruciating” pain.
Already record holder:Old Marine boards for over 8 hours, setting a Guinness record
Hood holds an even longer board world record – 10 hours, 10 minutes, 10 seconds – which was certified in 2018 by another sanctioning organization (Assist World Records).
The post-event pain doesn’t seem to deter Hood as these are just a few of the 13 world records he has set (and in some cases reset) since making his first world record attempt. in jump rope – for 13 hours, 12 minutes, 11 seconds – in 1986.
Since 2007, he has also set records for stationary cycling (222 hours, 22 minutes, 22 seconds), 40-pound board weight (two hours, 35 minutes, 35 seconds) and 24-hour board buildup (18 hours, 10 minutes, 10 seconds).
Hood is still trying to turn his world record attempts into fun and festive events, so on Saturday, in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols, the Illinois man will make his final certified world record attempt – this time for the Most pushups in an hour. – at Evolution Fitness in Boca Raton, Florida.
The number he will try to surpass: 2,919.
For Saturday’s event, which begins at 10 a.m., all proceeds raised will go to the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, an organization that provides assistance to veterans after their tour ends.
Only a limited number of spectators will be allowed to attend in person at the outdoor venue, where masking and social distancing will be enforced.
Hood’s YouTube page will be broadcasting a live stream.
Hood and Evolution Fitness are calling on participants to help raise money for the cause by making a small donation and completing the “10 Minute Pushup Challenge” – an invitation to do as many pushups as possible in 10 minutes.
“It will give people the chance to test themselves and just get a little taste of what it’s like to do what I’m going to be doing on Saturday,” Hood said.
People can also donate by visiting the event’s GoFundMe page.
To prepare for Saturday’s world record attempt – which Hood says will be “the shortest but most kinetic and dynamic I’ve ever done” – he spent the last year increasing his push-up count. daily.
“Until I started shrinking a few weeks ago, I was doing them in sets of three or four and totaling about 5,000 a day.”
Hood has since said since he decided in January 2020 to aim for the push-up record – “I had to break my ‘addiction’ to the plank,” he laughed – he did over 1, 3 million cumulative pumps.
“I spent seven hours a day on this world record attempt and have only taken off four days in the past 14 months,” he said.
In addition to the 5,000 push-ups, his daily workout routine included around 2,000 sit-ups, 2,000 leg lifts, two hours of planking, and a 60-minute, 2-mile-long cardio routine, along with other exercises and strength training. movements to keep his mind, core and physique of 5 feet, 9 inches, 160 pounds in perfect condition.
Legendary fitness guru Jack LaLanne was one of his inspirations, Hood said. In 1956, at age 42, LaLanne set his own unofficial “push-up world record” by clocking 1,033 in 23 minutes.
“I grew up with Jack LaLanne and have always been inspired by his fitness feats because they reflected a natural and authentic approach to health and fitness,” Hood said.
As to what drew him to the pursuit of world records, Hood, who has been a fitness enthusiast his entire life, stated a natural curiosity that made him wonder, “How long can I do that or how many reps can I do? ” and “I wonder if there is a world record for this?”
During training, Hood – who divorced with three adult sons – has already beaten LaLanne’s push-ups, doing around 1,000 in 20 minutes, and believes that next Saturday he will be in a good position to establish the new global brand.
Of course, Hood – who describes himself as “lonely” – would be the first concession he couldn’t set, or even attempt, any of those world records without his stellar support team.
This close-knit group of friends share the same ideas in their enthusiasm and fascination for endurance world records. They help Hood speed up his training and oversee logistics during the actual attempt.
Renae Cobley is one of the group members who Hood says has been instrumental in helping him achieve peak form both on the board and in this new challenge. She is an internationally renowned cognitive and endurance athlete mentality trainer from Sydney, Australia.
“Renae is the one I turn to when I need more support or advice,” he said. “In many ways, she looks more like an athletic therapist than a trainer.”
Cobley said Hood is “a remarkable athlete whose physical achievements and cognitive experiences are life changing and so inspiring to those who witness them.
As for how he fuels his body, Hood says his diet is quite “basic.”
“I try to eat clean,” he says. “No fast food or junk food. It’s about consuming fresh foods – things like lean protein, high-quality complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables – as well as controlling portion sizes and avoiding sugar and anything that gets processed. .
Nonetheless, he estimates that he can burn up to 4000 or 5000 calories per day during training, so he should eat accordingly.
Hood will put all that training and preparation to the test on Saturday.
Whether or not he sets the record, Cobley promised, “George always delivers a truly inspiring performance.”
