BY TODD M. ADAMS
Beginning Tuesday, July 10, Aurora resident George Hood will attempt to break the world record for consecutive hours on an exercise bike. His goal is to spin for 100 hours, well over the current mark of 82 hours. Hood begins his quest Tuesday at 7 a.m., and expects to finish Saturday around 7:30 p.m. While we will be keeping up with Hood via stories in our print edition, we’ve asked Hood to provide us with Internet updates throughout his ride. He agreed and will post updates in the “comments” portion of this blog every day in the morning, afternoon and evening.
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GEORGE HOOD, FIRST UPDATE, 9 a.m. Tuesday ---
Opening ceremony at 6:30. Nice tributes paid to families and supporters. Started exactly at 7 a.m. All clocks are operational and in sync. Fluid intake is good. Well hydrated, 1st two hours data looks good. Average heart approx. 80 bpm (beats per minute).
FROM MATT BARON -- FIVE SEASONS CLUB PUBLIC RELATIONS
Update @ 6 Hours (1 pm Central)
Six hours into his stationary “spin” cycle marathon, George Hood has yet to take a break and hopes to go another six hours before doing so at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge.
Under Guinness World Record rules, he is allowed to accumulate five minutes of break time for every hour riding on the stationary bike, then use those break minutes for intermittent longer breaks.
A supporter from his first GWR bid in January, Chicago White Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks, phoned Hood on Monday night to wish him well. Jenks is in San Francisco for the Major League All-Star Game, and hopes to visit Hood on Wednesday afternoon, before the club travels to Baltimore that evening.
Hood and Jenks have stayed in touch over the past six months, and Hood had previously phoned Jenks to congratulate him on his selection to the American League All-Star team.
Spin Numbers At the 6-Hour Mark:
Miles: 73.2 (12.2 mph)—GWR minimum each hour is 12.0
Heart Rate: 89 beats/minute
Revolutions Per Minute: 75
Calories Burned: 1,688
www.RideGeorgeRide.org
GEORGE HOOD UPDATE #2 -- 3:20 p.m. Tuesday
8 hours completed. Room temp has stabilized. Now cooler, minimizes fatique due to heat. Coverage by CBS news to air at 5 p.m. Media & public continue to be helpful. Next update this evening.
GEORGE HOOD UPDATE #3, 10:02 p.m.
Completed 14 hours without break. Exceeded all time for straight ride by two hours no problems. 17:40 break. Pillows uncomfortable, had a good stretch, Pit crew responded well, no nap just closed eyes.
GEORGE HOOD UPDATE #4 (Wednesday, 9:45 a.m.)
Got through night with personal best of 14 hours. Completing hour 26. Heart rate continues to rise at slow pace, need to slow down and relax. Broke early morning sunlight and stepped into day 2 with no issues. 5:30 spin class joined me for their spin, very high speed except for me, since I must maintain event pace despite enthusiasm to spin crazy. Made front page of Wednesday's Surburban Life.
This is the Wednesday morning press release from Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, written by club employee Matt Baron. ...
George Hood Century Spin For Kiwanis Kids
July 11, 2007
Update @ 24 Hours
Twenty-four hours into his stationary “spin” cycle marathon, George Hood has taken a total of 57 minutes and 3 seconds of breaks at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge.
His extraordinary start gives Hood, a 49-year-old Drug Enforcement Administration supervisory special agent, a robust 63-minute surplus of break minutes as he embarks on the second full day of his 4 ½-day quest to raise money for special needs children and to enter his name into the Guinness World Records book.
"I feel great," Hood said at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday. "This was the best overnight experience I've had, better than anything I experienced in four months of training."
Hood went 14 hours before his first break - a new personal-best, and took only one other break during the first 24 hours. His first two breaks lasted 17 minutes and 48 seconds, and 18 minutes and 55 seconds.
He took a third break (20 minutes and 20 seconds) shortly after 7:30 a.m., which marked 24 hours of actual pedaling. When he got back onto his LeMond RevMaster at 7:59 a.m. Wednesday, he had a net surplus of 62 minutes, 57 seconds (24 hours x 5 minutes=120 minutes, minus 57 minutes, 3 seconds of total consumed break time).
Under Guinness World Record rules, he is allowed to accumulate five minutes of break time for every hour riding on the stationary bike, then use those break minutes for intermittent longer breaks.
Also under GWR provisions, the entire time that Hood spends — both on the bike and during breaks — counts toward his final marathon time. The record is 82 hours, set by Brian Overkaer of Denmark in May 2006.
As long as Hood continues with his ride, he is on track to match Overkaer’s mark at 5 p.m. Friday. For stationary cycling, GWR recognizes records only in hourly increments, so establishing a new record would occur at the 83-hour mark, or 6 p.m. Friday. Hood plans to continue for at least another 18 hours beyond then, to surpass 100 hours on the bike.
Hood attributed his success thus far to his training, his nutritional balance and his psychological approach. His goal is to raise $30,000 for Twin Lakes Camp, a Kiwanis Club-operated facility near Plymouth, Ind., and online at www.twinlakescampinc.com.
Spin Numbers At the 24-Hour Mark:
Miles: 296.6 (12.36 mph)—GWR minimum each hour is 12.0
Average Heart Rate: 96/minute
Revolutions: 78/minute
Calories Burned: 7,548
Good Luck!
Tom
World Records Academy
www.worldrecordsacademy.org
GEORGE HOOD UPDATE #5 (Wednesday, 3:15 p.m.)
Thru hour 31, well into hour 32. Getting tired, trying to stay engaged and focused. Crowd is light. Evening will be better. Looking forward to three additional overnight experiences.
This is the Wednesday afternoon press release from Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, written by club employee Matt Baron. ...
UPDATE at 32 Hours
Now at 32 hours into his stationary "spin" cycle marathon, George Hood has ridden at a more measured pace than his January ride (see comparison below), traveling 10 theoretical miles less in that span.
But Hood has burned almost exactly the same number of calories (10,556 in his current ride vs. 10,546 in the first 32 hours in January), according to the data produced by his LeMond RevMaster bike.
Striving for his place in the Guinness World Records book at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, Hood has his sights set on another number: helping raise at least $30,000 for special needs children.
"It’s getting to be work," Hood said, shortly before 5 p.m. "The butt’s taking a bit of a beating. It’s getting sore."
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Hood had taken five breaks totaling 79½ minutes. That gives him a net surplus of about 80 minutes (32 hours x 5 minutes = 160 minutes of eligible break time.)
Under Guinness World Record rules, he is allowed to accumulate five minutes of break time for every hour riding on the stationary bike, then use those break minutes for intermittent longer breaks.
Also under GWR provisions, the entire time that Hood spends—both on the bike and during breaks—counts toward his final marathon time. The record is 82 hours, set by Brian Overkaer of Denmark in May 2006.
Hood is on track to match Overkaer’s mark at 5 p.m. Friday. For stationary cycling, GWR recognizes records only in hourly increments, so establishing a new record would occur at the 83-hour mark, or 6 p.m. Friday. Hood plans to continue for at least another 18 hours beyond then, to surpass 100 hours on the bike.
Hood’s goal is to raise $30,000 for Twin Lakes Camp, a Kiwanis Club-operated facility near Plymouth, Ind., and online at www.twinlakescampinc.com.
Spin Numbers At the 32-Hour Mark For Current Ride
Miles: 394.2 (12.32 mph)—GWR minimum each hour is 12.0
Average Heart Rate: 98/minute
Revolutions: 78/minute
Calories Burned: 10,556
Spin Numbers Through 32 Hours During His January Marathon
Miles: 404.3 (12.63 mph)
Average Heart Rate: 96/minute
Revolutions: 81/minute
Calories Burned: 10,546
GEORGE HOOD UPDATE #6 (Wednesday, 8:55 p.m.)
Ended 36 hours,sore... want to minimize movement on seat. More supporters tonight. Tired. Looking for midnight - one hour at a time........
GEORGE HOOD UPDATE #7 (Thursday, 10 a.m.)
Hour 48. Made it through 2nd overnight. Pushed through many walls with help of Pit crew. Made it 2 morning, many walls to go through with beast. Hot shower has washed away the beast........ still 2 overnights to go through.
This is the Thursday afternoon press release from Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, written by club employee Matt Baron. ...
Spin Numbers At the 50-Hour Mark For Current Ride
Miles: 578.5 (12.31 mph*)—GWR minimum each hour is 12.0
Average Heart Rate: 97/minute
Revolutions: 78/minute
Calories Burned: 14,789
Surplus Break Minutes: 60
*GWR Rules Include Break Time in Total Hours. Hood’s mph is based on 47 hours on the bike.
Spin Numbers Through 50 Hours During His January Marathon
Miles: 595.3 (12.67 mph)
Average Heart Rate: 97/minute
Revolutions: 81/minute
Calories Burned: 15,488
Update @ 50 Hours
Now past the 50-hour mark in his stationary "spin" cycle marathon at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, George Hood is halfway to his goal of 101 straight hours, which would shatter the current Guinness World Record of 82 hours.
At the same time, he and organizers are asking for the public’s support in helping them reach their goal of raising $30,000 for special needs children. The event beneficiary is Twin Lakes Camp, a Kiwanis Club-operated facility near Plymouth, Ind., and online at www.twinlakescampinc.com.
We appreciate the media’s continued support in alerting the public to how they can contribute to the fundraiser. Donations may be made at Five Seasons or mailed to:
Willowbrook-Burr Ridge Kiwanis Foundation Fund
Harris Bank
101 Burr Ridge Parkway
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From 4:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, a $20 donation gains admission to a Mega Chamber Networking Extravaganza, with 15 chambers of commerce participating. The event will feature a silent auction and food samplings from the area’s finest chefs.
As of 9 a.m. Thursday, Hood had taken 11 breaks totaling 174 minutes, giving him a net surplus of 60 break minutes that he can use later in his ride.
Under Guinness World Record rules, he is allowed to accumulate five minutes of break time for every hour riding on the stationary bike, then use those break minutes for intermittent longer breaks.
Also under GWR provisions, the entire time that Hood spends—both on the bike and during breaks—counts toward his final marathon time. The record is 82 hours, set by Brian Overkaer of Denmark in May 2006.
Hood is on track to match Overkaer’s mark at 5 p.m. Friday. For stationary cycling, GWR recognizes records only in hourly increments, so establishing a new record would occur at the 83-hour mark, or 6 p.m. Friday. Hood plans to continue for at least another 18 hours beyond then, to surpass 100 hours on the bike.
GEORGE HOOD UPDATE #8 (Thursday, 3:30 p.m.)
Recovered from walls. Great afternoon with family. Dad surprised me with Aunt and Uncle coming in from Indiana, Pa. Spark of energy. One hour of live radio broadcast with Linda from WJJG, crowds continued to come Inspired by Steve Ayre who checked Vitals and commited on remarkable numbers. Thanks to Dr Ayre for hour of sponsorship to ride the spin bike next to me. 3 young girls brought in signs for me that have been proudly hung for all to see.
GEORGE HOOD UPDATE #9 (Thursday, 9:30 p.m.)
Just finished hour 59, into hour 60. More energy than expected. Experience crunch after 12, I'll have to work to reach objective on Saturday. Extreme energy and attention from crowd. Inspired so many, who in turn inspire me. Also Brett Eastwood.
This is the Friday morning press release from Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, written by club employee Matt Baron. ...
Spin Numbers At the 72-Hour Mark For Current Ride
Miles: 828.6 (12.37 mph*)—GWR minimum each hour is 12.0
Average Heart Rate: 97/minute
Revolutions: 79/minute
Calories Burned: 21,047
Surplus Break Minutes: 78 (Hood has taken 17 breaks totaling 257 minutes so far. He has napped twice.)
*GWR Rules Include Break Time in Total Hours. Hood’s mph is based on 67 hours on the bike.
Spin Numbers Through 72 Hours During His January Marathon
Miles: 849.6 (12.68 mph)
Average Heart Rate: 97/minute
Revolutions: 81/minute
Calories Burned: 21,653
*GWR Rules Include Break Time in Total Hours. Hood’s mph is based on 67 hours on the bike.
Update @ 72 Hours
Now past the 72-hour mark in his stationary "spin" cycle marathon at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, George Hood is less than 10 hours away from tying the current Guinness World Record of 82 hours.
But Hood, a DEA special supervisory agent, is more than 24 hours shy of his goal of exceeding 100 hours in the Century Spin for Kiwanis Kids.
From Noon to 1 p.m. today (Friday), Hood and others will be inspired by Brett Eastburn, a man who was born without arms, legs, or—as Eastburn teaches—disabilities. The media and public are welcome at all times (directions are at bottom of this email).
Eastburn’s humor-filled presentation will include demonstrations in which he breaks wooden boards, throws a football, creates a piece of art, and provides practical tools on how anyone can overcome obstacles in life.
As a youngster, Eastburn attended Twin Lakes Camp, the camp for special-needs children that is the beneficiary of the Century Spin for Kiwanis Kids. Eastburn and Hood met in late June at the camp, for which Hood is hoping to raise $30,000.
Overnight Thursday, Eastburn stayed by Hood’s side throughout the wee hours, until past 6 a.m. today. Hood was rejuvenated at 5:30 a.m. as he led a Five Seasons spin class of about 20 people who joined him for an hour.
For more information about Eastburn, visit www.bretteastburn.net.
Information about Hood’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record in stationary “spin” cycling is at www.RideGeorgeRide.org.
We appreciate the media’s continued support in alerting the public to how they can contribute to the fundraiser. Donations may be made at Five Seasons or mailed to:
Willowbrook-Burr Ridge Kiwanis Foundation Fund
Harris Bank
101 Burr Ridge Parkway
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
---------
As of 7 a.m. Friday, Hood had taken 17 breaks totaling 257 minutes, giving him a net surplus of 78 break minutes that he can use later in his ride.
Under Guinness World Record rules, he is allowed to accumulate five minutes of break time for every hour riding on the stationary bike, then use those break minutes for intermittent longer breaks.
Also under GWR provisions, the entire time that Hood spends—both on the bike and during breaks—counts toward his final marathon time. The record is 82 hours, set by Brian Overkaer of Denmark in May 2006.
Hood is on track to match Overkaer’s mark at 5 p.m. Friday. For stationary cycling, GWR recognizes records only in hourly increments, so establishing a new record would occur at the 83-hour mark, or 6 p.m. Friday. Hood plans to continue for at least another 18 hours beyond then, to surpass 100 hours on the bike.
This is the Friday afternoon press release from Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, written by club employee Matt Baron. ...
Hood—Unofficially—Sets Stationary "Spin" Cycle Record
DEA Agent plans to keep going at Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge.
Update @ 83 Hours
For the second time in six months, George Hood is the unofficial new record holder in the stationary "spin" cycle marathon.
But, in his words, he has completed only "the first phase" of his effort. He has his sights set on surpassing 100 hours, which would take him well into Saturday, and then gaining certification from a Guinness World Records official set to arrive from London later Friday evening.
Though Hood rode for more than 90 hours in January, it did not gain GWR certification due to bookkeeping errors related to the length of Hood's breaks. At 6 p.m. Friday, amid enthusiastic applause from supporters, Hood reached the 83-hour mark at Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge.
We appreciate the media’s continued support in alerting the public to how they can contribute to the fundraiser. Donations may be made at Five Seasons or mailed to:
Willowbrook-Burr Ridge Kiwanis Foundation Fund
Harris Bank
101 Burr Ridge Parkway
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
Spin Numbers At the 83-Hour Mark For Current Ride
Miles: 952.7 (12.37 mph*)—GWR minimum each hour is 12.0
Average Heart Rate: 98/minute
Revolutions: 79/minute
Calories Burned: 24,806
Surplus Break Minutes: 65
*GWR Guidelines Include Break Time in Total Hours. Hood’s mph is based on 77 hours on the bike.
Spin Numbers Through 83 Hours During His January Marathon
Miles: 977.7 (12.70 mph*)
Average Heart Rate: 97/minute
Revolutions: 81/minute
Calories Burned: 24,631
*GWR Rules Include Break Time in Total Hours. Hood’s mph is based on 77 hours on the bike.
This is the Friday eveing press release from Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, written by club employee Matt Baron. ...
IT'S OFFICIAL! HOOD HAS GUINNESS WORLD RECORD!
Burr Ridge -- At 9:32 p.m. Friday, George Hood was presented with a certificate from a Guinness World Records official announcing Hood as the official new holder of the record in the stationary "spin" cycle marathon.
As of 10 p.m., Hood was at 87 hours and counting—five more than the previous record—at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge. He is helping to raise money for Twin Lakes Camp near Plymouth, Ind., a special-needs camp for children and young adults that is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Willowbrook-Burr Ridge.
After flying from London to O’Hare International Airport, Scott Christie, Guidelines Record Manager of Guinness World Records, Ltd., arrived at Five Seasons shortly before 9 p.m. After reviewing records chronicling Hood’s effort and conferring with event organizers, Christie approached Hood and announced to a gathering of supporters that Hood is the official record holder.
Christie exhorted friends, family and other supporters to continue supporting Hood as he strives to reach his goal of exceeding 100 hours.
"We know what we have to do," Hood said in response. "Let’s go to work."
Amid chants of "Ride George Ride," Hood continues to meet the 12 miles per hour requirement that is part of GWR guidelines for the endurance event. The public is welcome to come to the club and observe Hood extend the record. The club is at 6901 S. Madison in Burr Ridge, and online at www.fiveseasonsburr.com.
GEORGE HOOD UPDATE (Saturday, 10:30 p.m.)
Distance traveled from here to Tampa, Fl. Approaching 100 total elasped time. Beast has been tronced. Dismissed with extreme prejudice. Will continue to set bar higher, higher and higher.
You did it- again:) Without a doubt I knew you would!!!! You're awesome and a great inspiration to all! Your family and friends are all proud of you, I am certain! I am very lucky to have such a great friend in you- it's time to rest now and take in your moment George ... :)
Hey Agent Hood,
I'm sure that you dont remember me but i met you up at summer camp (Camp Freeland Leslie). i was watching the news today and i heard of your outstanding record. I'm glad to hear that you acheived what you set your mind to do. you are an inspiration to people everywhere. god bless.
Thank you, George, for teaming with our Kiwanis Club to raise money and awareness for Twin Lakes Camp. It was indeed a pleasure to be a part of this very special event.