The Sunshine Coast has a new world record holder after a mammoth 24-hour fitness challenge.
Jamie Milne and Russell Stringer set out to complete the excruciating Murph workout, aiming to break the previous record of 19.75 rounds in 24 hours.
The Murph workout is named after U.S Navy Seal Michael Patrick ‘Murph’ Murphy, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005.
One round consists of a 1.6-kilometre run, 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 200 squats and another 1.6-kilometre run, all done consecutively while wearing a 10-kilogram weight vest.
Mr Milne, who owns Jamie Milne Training in Warana, is no stranger to attempting these challenges after successfully breaking the Guinness World Record for the most double under skips in 12 hours in August last year.
He broke the record of 20,000 skips when he completed 22,222 in the time frame, fuelling the fire to see what he could break next.
So, the strength and conditioning coach along with his long-time friend began a strict training regime on October 1 in preparation for their attempt at the Murph workout on January 21.
“Russell and I knew from the get-go that this would be a really unique journey,” Mr Milne (pictured in action) said.
“Unlike any other event that we had done, we didn’t train for intensity or to our peak as you would for say an ultra-marathon or a triathlon.
“For this particular event we actually had to train our bodies to an optimum state so that we could maintain 70 per cent out of 100 per cent for 24 hours.”
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Unfortunately on the day and despite his best efforts, Mr Milne reluctantly bowed out after 11 rounds with major cramps.
Mr Stringer continued the challenge solo, eventually breaking the world record with 20.15 rounds in 24 hours.
“I am still a bit gobsmacked at the athlete and the human that is Russ,” Mr Milne said.
“Lots of people have alluded to how precise he was … his first squat in round one looked no different to those in round 20.
Across the 24 hours, fellow gym members, along with Mr Stringer’s son and daughter, jumped in to complete a few reps or an entire round to encourage him.
The event was an opportunity to raise money for Dementia Australia, a cause close to Mr Milne’s heart after he lost his grandmother to the disease.
Several local businesses and sponsors came on board and donated items for an auction, while a fundraising page was set up through Dementia Australia.
So far, the team has raised more than $13,000, exceeding their target of $10,000.
Holding his head high, Mr Milne said despite not completing the challenge himself the outcome was “perfect”.
“It couldn’t have worked out better,” he said.
“We walked away achieving both massive objectives – one, claiming the world record and two, raising well above our fundraising target for Dementia Australia.”
The fundraising link will remain open via fundraising.dementia.org.au and search ‘24 Hour Murph Workout World Record Attempt’.
SEE: http://fundraising.dementia.org.au/sponsor?kw=24+Hour+Murph+Workout+World+Record+Attempt)
