Veteran, 60, Shatters Planking World Record In Downers Grove

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — My personal planking record is 56 seconds, so when I heard that local fitness director George Hood set a Guinness World record Wednesday by planking for more than 10 hours, I was just a little impressed. A veteran Marine officer and retired DEA agent, Hood, now fitness director at Indian Boundary YMCA, is no stranger to personal challenges. This recent achievement also matches up with another milestone in Hood's life: he just turned 60.

A Facebook live feed followed Hood throughout his journey to break two Guinness World Records at Indian Boundary YMCA, one for longest continuous plank and another for most cumulative plank time in a 24-hour period.

The event, which is sanctioned by the Guinness Book of World Records, also raised funds to support Urban Warriors, a program through which veterans coach Chicago children who have been exposed to trauma and violence.

Hood introduced the Urban Warriors at 3 p.m. and dedicate his planking efforts to U.S. veterans — all while still planking. Hood had to hold his plank past 5:01 p.m. to secure the world record of 8 hours. He shattered it with a record of 10 hours and 10 minutes. Plank's previous personal record (not sanctioned by Guinness), set on June 2, is 9 hours and 20 seconds.

See one of Hood's previous planking attempts here:

Image via YouTube, David Przybyszewski