May 4-12, 2008 Media Coverage
Post-Ride Media Coverage
Listen to George's interview with Nick Digilio of WGN Radio
about his January ride as well as his upcoming July ride!
Update on George Hood’s January Spin Cycling Marathon
Guinness Official Expresses “Great Regret” in Declining to Certify Effort
PRESS RELEASE, April 27, 2007
Guinness World Records (GWR) officials recently informed George Hood that his January spin cycling marathon would not be
certified as a Guinness record due to bookkeeping flaws associated with the logbook that documented Hood’s journey.
In correspondence with Hood on April 26, GWR records manager Scott Christie, acknowledging the tremendous support generated by the
event, expressed “great regret” regarding the decision. (click on the links above for the entire press release and
responses to Mr. Christie from Five Seasons spokesman Matt Baron.)
“This has been a very difficult decision to come to as we recognize that this was done with the best of intentions… ” Christie
stated.
Hood, who had decided to surpass his previous effort well before the GWR ruling, took the decision in stride.
“As many folks can attest, the January event was about so much more than breaking a record and I’m proud to have been blessed
with the physical endurance and stamina to do this so others will benefit from such a wonderful experience,” said Hood.
The GWR decision has ignited a passionate and competitive fire in Hood who is now motivated more than ever to complete his
Century Spin for Kiwanis Kids. “We will learn from this experience,” he said.
The Century Spin for Kiwanis Kids is the July 10-14 spin cycling marathon at Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge, where Hood is a
member. This event will be part of a week long Summer Festival at Five Seasons, which will also feature many activities for kids
during the week.
The ride will also raise money for Twin Lakes Camp, a summer camp just outside Plymouth, Ind. that is devoted to children and
young adults with physical handicaps and crippling diseases. Many of the kids from the camp will be present on the final day,
Saturday, July 14, to witness Hood’s planned finish.
In his e-mail to Hood, Christie said Guinness officials were “sure” that Hood’s first marathon “was done in good faith and with the
best of intentions.” He also provided Hood with further guidance on keeping records in his July spin cycling marathon.
In keeping with his desire to lead from the front, Hood consulted Five Season Club member and friend Mickey Straub, President
of Sales Activity Management in Oak Brook, Ill., who designed a modified version of the GWR logbook page that would be easier for
judges and witnesses to complete and accurately measure Hood’s performance.
GWR recently approved and commended Straub for the revision, which GWR may adopt as the standard for future marathon attempts.
In January, Hood was on his LeMond RevMaster bike for 85 hours, which was witnessed by hundreds of local supporters, friends and
family during the week.
During the 85 hours, Hood earned five minutes of break time for each “completed hour” of cycling, which by GWR standards would
have resulted in Hood completing a nearly 92-hour marathon.
Upon further clarification with Christie, Hood has learned that break time is included in the overall marathon figure. So, his
bid for at least 100 hours in July could well result in an event approaching 110 marathon hours.
Christie recently told Hood that achieving that mark could land Hood a spot in the 2009 edition of the Guinness World Records
book.
The official GWR record to date remains 82 hours, established by 26-year-old Brian Overkaer of Denmark in May 2006, despite
claims from others, since January, who reported breaking Hood’s record of 85 hours. These other attempts have reportedly not been
sanctioned by GWR.
Hood accepts the decision by GWR with no regrets and with an extreme respect for the institution of GWR and the detailed
documentation standards inherent in such a world-record sanctioning organization. A groundswell of support has been generated for
Hood’s July attempt and he has assembled a core group of volunteer judges and witnesses who will document the ride in a clear
manner that will meet and exceed GWR requirements.
The Kiwanis Club of Willowbrook-Burr Ridge is spearheading the volunteer and fund-raising outreach for the upcoming ride, which
will include an opportunity for sponsors and individuals to donate, at a minimum, $100 for a one-hour time slot to ride alongside
Hood as he “spins” his way to a new world record. This event is about kids and Hood encourages kids of all ages to be present at
Five Seasons for his record-setting ride.
The goal is to raise over $30,000, which is the sum Hood and Five Seasons helped generate in January for the Illinois chapter of
COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors), a group dedicated to helping the families of fallen law enforcement officers.
“We are excited to help George pursue the record again, and to be part of such a worthwhile cause,” said Mitch Evers, Five
Seasons’ chief club officer.
To learn more, including what you can do to play an active supporting role, feel free to contact:
George Hood — 630-415-6222 — georgehood111@yahoo.com .
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