Planking is a fun little diversion for most people, but for George E. Hood, it's serious business. A former Marine and now a fitness trainer, Hood set the world record over the weekend for the longest plank in history.
Hood's five-hour, 15-minute plank was nearly 50 minutes longer than the world record, which was set by a Chinese police officer. With the feat, Hood recaptured a record he had held in the past, all while raising fitness awareness and raising funds for the Semper Fi Fund, which benefits injured Marines.
"I’m a little sore and a little stiff," Hood told the San Diego Union-Tribune just after finishing his plank. "My feet and upper body are pretty sore, actually the whole body. It’s a total body exercise."
When Hood first set the record in 2011, his time was 1 hour, 20 minutes and 5.01 seconds. By 2013, Hood pushed the mark to 3 hours, 7 minutes and 15 seconds.
Hood performed his plank in front of a crowd that went through periods of silence followed by cheering, as the Marine veteran hit certain milestones en route to the record.
Hood wasn't aware of how long he was planking until he had officially surpassed the world record, at which time Hozier's song "Take Me to Church" came over the speakers.
Hood was aided by volunteers who supplied him with water and rubbed ice onto his muscles, which improved their endurance. To perform a plank -- and to have it count for world record purposes -- Hood was unable to led his back relax or dip, all while resting his body weight on his forearms and his toes. His toes were unable to come off the planking surface at any time.
The experience was a grueling one nonetheless, one that Hood characterized as "mind over matter." Once the record was set, he kept going as long as he could, resulting in an impressive record that will be tough to surpass.
