Now I’ve been challenged to break a World Record, this seems like a pretty daunting task, fortunately however I’am reliably informed that some World Records that are some silly that there must be at least one in the book that’s doable, but surely breaking a World Record would be more difficult that the challenge suggests. If anybody could do it then, um, anybody would do it.
So on one afternoon in March 2011 I get one of those new fangled instant messages the kids are all talking about, it’s from Mel.
Mel and I are internet friends. That is to say, whilst we’ve been in the same room on quite a few occasions, for some reason we’ve always been on the other side of the room, or remarkably busy doing something else. Therefore we’ve really only talked online. Such is the way of the world today, we have more friends than ever before, but they are distant friends you rarely physically meet.
“you know 155,” she types “does that have to be a solo record?”
Rather a strange way to start a conversation I think, or would, if that indeed was the way she started the conversation1, however by this point we’d already talked about what she actually wanted to talk to me about and have delved into the exciting realm of small talk and nonsense.
She goes on to explain what she meant with a link.
It seems that the folks who make Hula Hoops, those lovely starchy hoop shaped snacks are holding a “Hoopathon”, which given further reading turns out to be an attempt to Break the World Record for simulations Hula. Score!
I quickly sign up and check the tems and conditions. It seems I need my own Hoop and dutifully make my way to the local toy store to pick one up. They don’t have one. So I go to the toy store in Manchester to find one. Nope. The gentleman who I ask in Manchester is a sales assistant called James. James tells me that they do not get more call for them and suggests I look online, disappointed I order a hoop on the train via my phone my way home.
That’s all I need and will therefore be in Manchester on the 21st of March at midday, shaking my bootie for break a world record. To register, you have to register for the Sports mile, and given that I am to do everything for charity – please follow the link and give generously.
Actually, those folks who want to join me – log on, then join the Ruin Mikey’s Life team by sending me an email with your running number.
TIME PASSES!
I’ve failed the task! At the time I thought we’d done it. I hula hooped well and did my 2 minutes like I was required and I even got an email through from the Hula Hoop people saying the following.
“They held Hula Hoops Hoopathons at all 16 of the Flagship Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile events across the UK on Sunday 21st March, and an incredible 1,388 people took part in what was to become the Guinness World record-breaking largest number of people to hula-hoop simultaneously across the UK for two minutes.
Hula Hoops, you rock our world and we can’t thank you enough for your incredible support.”
That’s right, I was a world record holder. On top of the world. Foot loose and fancy free. Then I decided to check to see how much we’d smashed the previous record by and from the now defucnt www.worldrecordholders.org we find:
“The record for simultaneous hula-hooping (minimum time: 2 minutes) is for 2,290 participants at Chung Cheng Stadium in Kaohsiung (Taiwan) on 28 October 2000″
I feel numb. Whilst I am dubious as to the validity of the website, I am still not entirely sure I have broken a world record. I can’t leave it to chance that I have not completed the challenge. So I’m looking for another world record to do. If anybody has one to hand.
1 – This is not a Hollywood movie, therefore people build up to things in conversations and say goodbye when they hang up a phone.
