Time travel is still not a thing, but did you know that it is possible to completely stop time? That’s right, just assume a plank position and then hold it. Boom, time has stopped as we know it, or at least that’s how it feels, which makes George Hood’s latest Guinness World Record for longest plank ever held by a male even more impressive.
So long did Hood hold his plank for?
The 62 year old former U.S. Marine held his plank for a miraculous 8 hours, 15 minutes, and 15 seconds. This feat now stands as a Guinness World Record and the full video was shared on their YouTube channel a few days ago. Consider this, Hood just spent a full work day in a plank position and that’s mind numbing when you really think about it.
To top it off, Hood is completing this feat at 62 years old which only reinforces the old saying that “age is just a number”. He’s defying the odds of conventional wisdom, and bringing home yet another world record, check out the video below.
Related: Check out Dana Glowacka’s four hour world record plank!
What Was George Hood’s Training?
As a strength athlete, specificity and progressive overload are absolute musts for success, but what did Hood’s training look like in lead up to this world record?
In the Guinness World Records’ article covering this feat, they briefly touch on his training and write, “Hood has trained nearly seven hours a day for the past 18 months, which included, but was certainly not limited to, approximately 2,100 hours of plank time, 270,000 pushups and nearly 674,000 sit-ups.”
Seven hours a day for 18 months! Planking was literally his job for over a year, and it certainly shows, as he did 75 push-ups following the plank to celebrate, per the Guinness World Records’ article.
He’s Actually Held a Plank for Longer
As hinted at above, this isn’t Hood’s first plank world record. Two years ago at the age of 60, he held a plank for 10 hours and 10 minutes to raise money for a Chicago-based program that helps children who have been exposed to violence. However, this wasn’t a Guinness World Record, as it was certified by a different organization.
The previous Guinness World Record for longest plank held by a male came from Mao Weidong which was set back in 2016 in Beijing.
Plank World Records FAQs
What's the longest plank ever held?
There are a few unofficial world record planks floating around, but the official Guinness World Records for longest planks held by a male and female are as follows:
- Male: George Hood 8 hours, 15 minutes, and 15 seconds
- Female: Dana Glowacka 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 55 seconds
What muscles do planks work?
The plank is an isometric exercise that targets the core musculature. It’s important to remember that the “core” is much more than the rectus abdominis. The obliques, transverse obliques, erectors, and other torso muscles will be indirectly involved in planks as well.
Feature image from Guinness World Records YouTube channel.
