Ashrita Furman. Who? You may have heard his name related to the Guinness Book of World Records. In fact, Furman holds the world record for the most world records. Twist your brain around that!
He has achieved 364 world records in his adult lifetime. He also is the first to hold 100 records simultaneously. To list a few:
- Somersaulting
- Pogo stick jumping
- Sack racing
- Under water rope jumping
- Hula hoop racing
And, his latest: mountain climbing on stilts. Those are not even his most obscure, by the way.
As a kid, he thought sports was a waste of time and even got beaten up for being a nerd in high school. Darn bullies. But he is a testament to the anti-bullying campaign, “It Gets Better.”
Today he is uber-fit, not because he lives to be so, but “to be the best in the world at something that interests you” requires training. He gets in shape by practicing his craft and he stays in shape by pushing to be the best. Yes, even the great art of pogo sticking requires real fitness, if you’re going to set records.
After two failed attempts without proper training, he got fit and won his first Guinness record for Jumping Jacks in 1979 at New York’s Jack Lalanne Health Spa — 27,000 in 6 hours and 45 mins. He was hooked.
When interviewed on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumble last summer (some 32 years and 363 records later) prior to completing his precarious stilt-walking climb, the reporter asked him, “isn’t it enough already?” Furman replied, “Getting success is not my happiness. Progress is my happiness.”
Happiness first, fitness by default.
When what you truly want embodies the healthy life you seek, fitness often becomes the PATH of least resistance.
Furman hopes his joy in the effort and his subsequent wins will inspire the rest of us to go after our dreams.
“The particular event is unimportant,” he says, “as long as it gives you the opportunity to dance on the edge of your capacity.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Olga (Jack Lalanne’s very distant cousin, by the way – not really but she wishes so) has a great activity you can do in your home to stay fit. It’s called “Carioca” (care-ee-okah):
Quite simply, you move sideways crossing one foot in front of the other then in back, alternating. Then go back the other directions. Keep your shoulders pointed forward at all times and swing your arms. Chose a space you can move across that is 10 yards or so. Move both directions for 30 seconds and then switch and face the other wall and repeat for 30 seconds. Repeat the whole process 3 times resting 20 seconds between sets. Add this to other cardio/cross-fit exercises we’ve given you and you’ll be Ashrita fit in no time!
What are you striving toward these days? Share your journey with us!
See you on the PATH Ahead.