What began as a way to stay active after an injury has resulted in a Guinness World Record for an Alberta teacher and grandmother.
Substitute teacher DonnaJean Wilde set a new record by holding a plank position for four hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds.
The record-setting feat took place on March 21 in front of family, students and friends in the theatre at Magrath High School, where Wilde taught for many years. Wilde’s performance surpassed the previous record of 4 hours, 19 minutes and 55 seconds, set in May 2019.
“It was stressful keeping perfect form, and I was emotional seeing all the students there,” Wilde said. “I just thought, if they think I can do it, then I could do it, and that helped me focus.”
Wilde applied to Guinness World Records in January to attempt the plank world record. She worked with Guinness officials in both the US and London offices and was put in touch with an adjudicator, who flew from Montreal to judge her attempt. A film crew also came to document the entire event!
Every detail had to meet Guinness World Records requirements. Before the event, Wilde had to send a video of herself planking at home so Guinness officials could review her form, and the set-up also had to be arranged to exacting specifications. The plank exercise itself had to be performed in bare feet. Wilde’s fingers were not allowed to lock together or touch, and any slip of her toes or sway of her back would have meant instant disqualification.
Long-term dedication
Wilde started planking 11 years ago after she broke her wrist in a fall. With her arm in a cast, she found herself unable to do her typical fitness activities like running or lifting weights, so rather than give up on her desire to keep active, she decided to join her kids, who were doing plank challenges.
“It allowed me to do something productive while I had my cast on,” she recalled. “I would plank every day.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Wilde’s dedication to planking reached new heights. Encouraged by her children, she decided to take her planking seriously and discovered that she could sustain planks for hours on end. She used much of this time to complete teacher tasks. With her computer on the floor in front of her, Wilde would grade papers, mark assignments and answer emails while planking. This dedication eventually led her to apply to Guinness World Records.
In training for the event, Wilde started by planking every other day in January and February, then every day in March. She divided her planking time into blocks of two to three hours to get in a total six hours of planking per day.
For the test itself, since washroom breaks were not allowed, Wilde had to create a diet and hydration plan well in advance. She avoided drinking anything the night before or the morning of the event, consuming only some energy granola bars before the 7:30 a.m. start.
Now, with a Guinness World Record under her belt, Wilde says she doesn’t know what’s next for her. She said she’s enjoying retirement and substitute teaching when she can. Based on her experience, she encourages others to aim high in their endeavours.
“If you’re good at something, go for it and be the best you can be.” ❚
