CLEBURNE TIMES-REVIEW August 4, 2002 FRONT PAGE
The following was taken from the Cleburne Times-Review, interview.
''FITNESS FANATIC ROB POWELL SETS GUINNESS WORLD RECORD; CROWNED WORLD FITNESS CHAMPION
Rob Powell earned the title of World Fitness Champion, and a place in The Guinness Book of World Records, by completing a set of 11 fitness challenges in record time last October.
Powell broke the old mark held by Joe Decker, by 2 hours, and added much more to the event.
This October, he plans to break his own World Record.
The Challenge is...
2 Mile Swim, 12 Mile Run, 12 Mile Hike, 1,250 Push-ups, 1,250 Leg Lifts, 1,250 Jumping Jacks, 110 Mile Cycle, 20 Mile Row, 20 Mile Elliptical, 3,250 Crunches, and Lift 300,000 Pounds, 150 Tons, using upper body only.
His time?....22:11:40.... His goal in October, under 20 Hours.
His confidence comes from the fact he faked 3 leg cramps, and ellipticalled 2 extra miles, to make the time over 22:10, because he was afraid, despite all the witnesses and Guinness certified Officials ( 9, only 3 required ) and the unrequired 3 rolls of film, and over 22 Hours of video tape, no one would believe the time if it was under 21 hours.
'Now, Guinness and I have a relationship, they know I am legitimate, and I plan to hold nothing back.'
Coach Rob Powell, a Teacher/Coach, formerly lived in Cleburne, while he was a Coach in Joshua. He says he really liked Cleburne, and misses living here.
Rob came back to Cleburne, to ride in the Goatneck 100k. He rides the 25 Mile Race, every year he is in the area, and attempts to break his own record, every year he returns.
He was successful, in his efforts this year, and won the 25 Mile, ( 27 1/2 Miles ), and broke his own record, with a time of 1:10:16
Powell hopes to create a New Sport, THE WORLD FITNESS CHAMPIONSHIPS, in 2003, based on his records.
His ultimate goal is to help America to shape up.
'If we get the sport off the ground, hopefully, the public will say, these guys are doing 10 events, they all have to do with fitness, maybe I will try one of them, maybe, 2 of them.
Then, hopefully a fitness trend will develop, and Americans will begin to shape up.
But before we get there, extraordinary claims and extraordinary goals require extraordinary, proof, and extraordinary attention.
And corporate sponsorship.' ''