Failing 59 times in a row teaches you a lot about stubbornness.
When you set out to break a Guinness World Record, like the fastest hole of disc golf by a team of four, you expect a challenge. But standing on a skinny, PDGA-certified course at the crack of dawn, watching your opening throws sail out of bounds, reality sets in.
I teamed up with my friend Travis and his two boys, Oliver and Anders, for this one. These kids have literally been playing disc golf since they could walk, having grown up with a target in their backyard. Since finding a course over 200 meters long that met Guinness’s strict criteria required a half-hour drive out to Mallard Park, we made the early morning trek.
Travis started off as our primary thrower because he’s the best of the bunch. But after 15 attempts, we realized we should save his arm because it was the most critical to our success. Since his throw was the best, we couldn’t risk blowing out his shoulder trying to get a tough first throw in
So, I stepped in. And I struggled.
Attempt after attempt, nearly 40 of them, went sideways. Every single toss had to be completely legal under strict disc golf regulations, and on a narrow course, my throws kept missing the mark. Frustration mounted, but even though it tried, I kept the doubt from creeping in.
Persistence pays off when you refuse to quit. On our 60th attempt, everything finally aligned. I sent a solid drive down the fairway, Travis followed up with a great shot, and Oliver kept the momentum moving. Anders then stepped up and chucked it right down by the target.
At that point, it was all hustle: I had to sprint 41 grueling seconds uphill, grab the disc, and lock it into the basket.
Boom! new Guinness World Records title secured.
Check out the chaos and the final sprint.
What crazy goal are you chasing this week? Let me know, and follow along to see what we try next!