Canadian Woman Sets New Record for Longest Female Plank

Canadian woman DonnaJean Wilde has set a new world record for the longest plank held by a female at the Huntsman World Senior Games. At 61 years old, she managed to hold the pose on her toes and forearms for an astonishing five hours.

This achievement marks a significant milestone in Wilde's journey as a planking enthusiast. She began her daily planks over a decade ago, after breaking her arm during her career as a teacher. As a result of this injury, she had to adapt her exercise routine, and the plank became one of the few exercises she could still perform.

Wilde's approach to planking was unconventional from the start. Instead of aiming for specific time intervals, she would simply hold the pose for as long as possible. Her initial goal was modest, just 10 minutes, but she was thrilled when she exceeded it after a few months of practice.

DonnaJean Wilde's approach to planking is unconventional, yet effective. Rather than focusing on her body positioning, she keeps track of time and monitors her posture in a mirror at home.

Her strategy involves distracting herself from the physical strain of holding the plank position. This can take various forms, including reading, watching movies, or even writing books. Wilde's own book, titled "From Minutes to Hours: I Wrote This Book While Planking", is a testament to her creative approach.

In preparation for her record-breaking attempt, Wilde treated the last month like training for a marathon. She allowed herself to go about her daily routine as usual during this time, rather than making drastic changes. Her diet also played a crucial role in her preparation, with a focus on consuming high amounts of carbs and protein.

The day before her record-breaking hold, Wilde fueled up with a meal rich in meat and eggs. However, the day itself was marked by a deliberate decision to arrive dehydrated. This allowed her to take sips of water during the attempt, which helped to maintain her endurance.

Wilde's determination paid off as she shattered her previous record without any bathroom breaks.

As she approached the end of her 5-hour plank challenge, Wilde encountered a new obstacle: maintaining her momentum after breaking her own record.

The physical toll was evident, with Wilde admitting to feeling like she'd hit a wall and questioning whether she could complete the final half hour.

Her motivation for pushing through this challenging period came from anticipating her post-plank meal, which has become a daily ritual.

Every night, Wilde indulges in a simple yet satisfying combination of yogurt and puffed wheat.

In the aftermath of this grueling challenge, Wilde was feeling stiff but has already returned to her regular planking routine.