Navy SEAL David Goggins Tackles World Record for Most
Pull-Ups, Raises Money for Children of Fallen Special Operations
personnel
On
Thursday, Sept 27, Navy SEAL David Goggins will attempt to break the Guinness
World Record for the “Most Pull-Ups” in a 24-hour period while also raising
awareness and funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a top-rated
nonprofit organization that supports the families of fallen and wounded Army,
Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations
personnel.
His
efforts will be covered by the TODAY Show (NBC), where a pull-up bar will be
installed into the studio and they will monitor his progress throughout the show
and again on Friday morning for the finale. The current record for the number
of pull-ups is 4,020 by Stephen Hyland at his personal gym in Stoneleigh, UK, on
July 23, 2011.
If
anyone can break the record, it is David Goggins. As a Navy SEAL, ultramarathon
runner, Ironman finisher plus veteran of numerous other endurance races, he is
someone who not only enjoys a good challenge, but often puts himself into
situations that he doesn’t like. Often times he pushes himself to extreme
limits raise funds for a nonprofit organization he is passionate about, the
Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
In
2005, several of Goggins’ fellow Navy SEALs were killed in a helicopter crash
during a mission in Afghanistan. To honor them, Goggins vowed to raise money for
the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which ensures a full college to the
children of fallen special operations personnel. Goggins rationalized that to
raise money, he would have to do something extreme, something phenomenal—
something incredibly painful.
So, he
went online and “Googled the 10 hardest events in the world.” That is where he
found the Badwater Ultramarathon, a legendary 135-mile race through Death
Valley.
In
2006, with little distance running under his belt, he finished the Badwater and
gained much attention from the running world. Although he admits he “hates
running,” he continued to push himself by competing in other ultra-marathons to
raise awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, while also
honoring the sacrifices of his fallen brothers.
In
2008, Runners’ World magazine named Goggins a “Hero of Running” for his
philanthropic efforts.
Goggins
will appear on the Today Show from 8:00 am – 8:30 am (EST) when he kicks off his
24-hour period of pull-ups. The Today Show will monitor the pull-ups and have
the finale on Friday between 8:00 am – 8:30 am.
