Often when people hear about the World Record attempt for the first time, they wonder:
“Am I fit enough to participate?”
Unless you already are an ultra-marathon runner, the answer may be “maybe not quite yet”, but it is not just about fitness! Being able to keep dancing for more than 12 hours is not just about fitness, it is also about:
- Knowing when and how to pace yourself
what is a good intensity level for you to keep going? - Knowing how to motivate yourself
When do you hit your low point and how can you motivate yourself to keep going? - Knowing how to take care of yourself
How much do you need to drink? How can you avoid pain and cramping? - How to keep happy
What do you like to eat? How often do you like to change clothes? What can you do to enjoy yourself? - And how to fit all of it into a very short break
We went through a series of initial training events to understand both our own limitations and what to do to make the event more enjoyable for everyone else, e.g. by changing the playlist and break schedule.
But really, the only way to find out how to last for more than 24 hours is to give it a try and see what works for you!
Below a short summary of our journey!
Fourth long training session: 17 hours (5 p.m. to 10 a.m.)
– past 13 hours, new body parts start aching
– managing the low point requires a lot of mental energy
– a well balanced playlist improves motivation A LOT
– apart from being tired, we were fine the day after – you can feel your endurance increasing with each of these trainings!
Third long training session: 10 hours (10 p.m. to 8 a.m.)
– low point is in the early morning
– stretching helps a lot
– muscles ache less and less the next day
Second long training session: 13 hours (2 p.m. to 3 a.m.)
– medium intensity Zumba keeps you motivated
– without a lot of stretching, muscles start to cramp
– repetitive playlists become annoying quickly
First long training session: eight hours (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
– eight hours of Zumba were perfectly doable for two reasonably fit Zumba instructors
– low intensity Zumba conserves energy, but is so boring that it becomes demotivating
– unfamiliar choreography is mentally extremely fatiguing