With the advent of the New Year, most of us make promises to become better versions of ourselves. But for personal trainer Eva Clarke, January presents a different kind of opportunity: a chance to break a Guinness World Record and raise money for a cancer charity. Indeed, it was just last February that Eva successfully achieved the world record for the most knuckle push-ups in a space of 24 hours. She made 9,241 push ups and raised US $ 17,000 for the Maria Cristina Foundation. Tempo caught up with the fiery Clarke to learn of her new record-breaking aspirations…
Tempo: Who is Eva Clarke?
Eva: First and foremost I am a mother and a wife. Every spare second I can get between kids and a husband, I squeeze in for clients and group fitness sessions. I find time to chase my dreams, and so I’ve decided to give back to those who need help.
Tempo: What does fitness mean to you?
Eva: Fitness is equivalent to a vital organ to me, if I don’t do it I feel like I won’t survive. It’s my routine: I love to move. What I do feels right for me because I am passionate about it. There are so many forms of fitness in the world, and we all just need to find what we like and what suits our lifestyle and habits. My fitness is BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu), HUA (Military Fitness Training), CrossFit, ultra-marathons, circuit training and sometimes just playing games with the kids. Fitness is all about variety and moving! Just move, and you’ll feel good about yourself!
Tempo: Tell us about your new attempt to break a Guinness World Record.
Eva: I am pairing up with fellow personal trainer, Lee Ryan. I am attempting one-minute knuckle pushups, one hour burpees, 12 hour burpees, and 24 hour burpees. I would like to add that in April I will run the London Marathon for charity and I hope to break the world record for fastest time carrying a 20 pound back pack.
be happy because you can say “you did it all”. That’s me, that’s how I think!
Tempo: Run us through the day of attempt.
Eva: In the first minute I hope to do 80 plus knuckle pushups. Straight after I will do 20 burpees on every minute mark for 60 minutes aiming for 1200. After that I am going to grit my teeth and dig jaw it through till I get 5000 plus in 12 hours and 7500 in 24 hours. Last time, I did this and I had a plan and it didn’t go as “planned” because it was so arduous on my body. This time around, I will go until we raise US 50,000.
Tempo: How were your preparations for this?
Eva: Every day if am doing a hundred of burpees, I add them to all my sessions as warm ups, super sets and then by themselves in 39-60 minute increments. There hasn’t been a session that hasn’t involved a burpee and as much as it hurts I know it’s for the greater good.
Tempo: What difficulties have you faced in preparation for the attempt?
Eva: My shoulders are suffering and have become very unstable affecting other areas. I like to train in Crossfit and BJJ. My forefinger and middle finger on my master hand are almost broken from the pressure of keeping my fists to the floor. I can’t place my palms down as I have keinbocks disease and my range of motion is poor. I have had to start using pushup bars to take the pressure of my hands to continue maintaining my schedule for this event.
Tempo: Wow, what a challenge!
Eva: Not funny, but when HUA members have been late to a class we do up to 15 minutes of burpees for not being on time. Since we introduced such a fantastic exercise to combat tardiness everyone seems to run on time. My HUA team has had to endure burpees for the last six months. In all honesty I think there are a few HUA tough members that could do exactly what I am doing. I have been very privileged to have had my members by my side for my preparation and I will be honoured to have them by my side when Lee and I hit our target for charity and for the Guinness world record.
Tempo: What inspired you to do this?
Eva: This flowed on from my 24-hour world record for pushups. Lee and I decided that we would do this for a kids’ charity and when we found World Childhood Cancer, we were happy to make a difference to children who are facing the dark. Cancer is a horrible illness. I couldn’t imagine facing it as an adult let alone having my children face it. We have decided to become the light for those who can’t afford treatment as through our efforts we are hoping to give 10 children living in underprivileged countries treatment to ease the pain of suffering. I hope the community gets behind this as every dollar gets closer to giving 10 children hope.
Tempo: Any New Year resolutions for you?
Eva: Every year I hope that I can give back more to the universe. I am fortunate to have a roof over my head, food to eat and healthy kids. I won’t change the world of academia – so no Nobel prizes for me, but I will continue to put my body on the line for charity. I hope to be healthy enough for my challenge this month and my London marathon attempt in April 2015. I will be pushing for new heights as I prepare for another challenge in 2016 – with pull-ups for charity.
Tempo: What would you say to those attempting to break records?
Eva: Whatever you love doing is right. Many may see what I do as crazy but it makes me happy. It’s my way of giving back to the universe for blessing me with so much.
Some people will hate what we choose to do because they see it only from their eyes. It’s not how others see it that matters; it’s how you yourself see it! I see my efforts giving hope to children already suffering. What right do I have to do nothing? None! Live life, people! Have no regrets. And when it’s your time to head upstairs be happy because you can say “you did it all”. That’s me, that’s how I think!
To support Eva and Lee go to: https://www.justgiving.com/24hourburpee/
By Vera Rosales
