OSU veep
Train, Set World Record, Repeat keeps set ting
endurance
world records.
S TO R Y BY BE V E R LY BRYA N T P H OTO G R A P H Y BY PH I L S H O C K LE Y
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STEVE PRICE is a driven man. The world record is held by Jan Kares of the Czech Republic, who did 4,620 pull-ups in 24 hours from Oct. 7-8, 2011.
In addition to serving as OSU’s associate vice president for technology development, he believes in exercising for good health but admits he needs a challenge. His best motivation seems to be
SETTING WORLD RECORDS. Pulling Up
Price, 62, and his wife, Ann Roberson, have six sons; one is a Marine. “I asked him what he did for his physical training, and pull-ups were on the list,” Price says. “I started checking The Book for Alternative Records to see if anyone had set a record for pull-ups; no one had, in my age and weight categories,” Price says. That inspired Price’s first world record attempt. From April 21-22, 2009, he set the world record with 3,175 pull-ups in 24 hours. But that was just a fraction of the number of pull-ups he had done to prepare. Over a year and a half, Price performed 60,000 pull-ups. He worked on his goal for 15 to 18 hours every weekend. His other interests, which include wall and rock climbing, also helped strengthen his pulling muscles, he says. He calculated the rate at which he would have to perform pull-ups in order to set a record — 2.2 pull-ups per minute. He set a metronome to pace himself before he reached the point of being ready to try for the record.
On the day of his attempt, he had 42 witnesses to confirm the number of pullups in the allotted time. He also was videotaped, and it was broadcast on the Internet. Pull-up records are categorized several ways, including by number, by time and by the sex of the competitor. Price held the 24-hour, male pull-up record for about a year. Since then, his total has been passed at least three times. From May 30-31, 2010, U.S. Navy Seaman Jason Armstrong, in Pacific Grove, Calif., first broke Price’s record with 3,355 pull-ups in 24 hours. In the process, Armstrong also broke the record for most pull-ups in 12 hours, with 3,165. Others have tried several times, Price says. “It took an ex-Navy Seal three tries to set the current (American) record.” David Goggins tore a tendon in his forearm on his first attempt in September 2012, after completing 2,588 pull-ups. In November 2012, he completed 3,207 pull-ups in 12 hours before stopping with third-degree burns on his hands from the shear and frictional forces. Goggins completed 4,030 pull-ups in 24 hours from Jan. 19-20, 2013. While it’s on video, it was not officially verified by the time STATE went to print.
Up Next, Erging After setting the world record for pull-ups, Price wondered what else he could do with those pulling muscles. Almost simultaneously, he became interested in ocean rowing. “I started looking at boat designs and my wife got me an erg (rowing) machine,” he says. “I would stay home to work out with that.” He logged millions of meters erging, or stationary rowing, while waiting for a custom boat to be built suitable for rivers, lakes and oceans. Again, Price found himself looking at different world records as motivation to continue his new workouts. In May 2012, he set the 24-hour world record for erging in his age and weight class during his first attempt at the Seretean Wellness Center. He rowed 200,837 meters. “I was notified that my record was posted online at the Concept2 (manufacturer of his erg machine) website, indicating they had accepted my data,” Price says. “I made sure I printed it off fast, because there’s always the possibility that someone in the world will break my record, and you can never be sure when that will happen, so you enjoy it for the moment.” Price videotaped his rowing record. Brian Carroll, president of the OSU rowing club, served as an official witness for the event. As of Oct. 29, Concept2’s website still listed Price as the record holder.
How About on Water? Each of Price’s world records builds on his previous successes. In August 2013, Price and his rowing partner, Colin Angus, 42, came within 78 minutes of breaking the human-powered speed world continues
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record on a 440-mile stretch of Canada’s Yukon River. Price and Angus traded two-hour shifts, alternating sleep and rowing. During a sprint in the last 60 miles, they realized they didn’t have the power to catch up to the record but continued pushing themselves. When they crossed the finish line, they were surprised to learn they set the fastest time in the past five years, the fourth-fastest
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overall time in history and the second-fastest time for a two-person team. “We were looking at an ocean race in Great Britain starting and ending in London, without touching the shore and with no assistance from anyone,” Price says. To prepare for that race, Price says they rowed under all weather conditions on Keystone Lake, west of Tulsa, Okla. What stopped them was the $70,000 in expenses for the boat, shipping
equipment and electronic gear. He says he and Angus tried to raise the money before having to pull the plug. Only six crews participated in that race. “As a consolation prize, we did the row down the Yukon River,” he says. “They followed the route of the Yukon Quest, which only allows canoes and kayaks to participate. We raced independently, about 12 hours ahead of the other racers (in the Yukon River Quest).”
Price and Angus were the fastest nonstop traverse between Whitehorse and Dawson City. The rowers are looking at 2015 for the Great Britain race and have started fundraising.
Having a Goal “The theme running through this is I can’t exercise without a goal,” Price says.
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“My exercise regime consists of also getting up at 5 a.m. I force myself to exercise three or four times a week. I have to have a significant goal. I’m 62 years old and I want to encourage us oldsters to keep going. Many have a lack of enthusiasm. I’m hoping to encourage our cohorts to get out.” In addition to his exercise regiment, Price and his six sons go backpacking together once a year. He also enjoys bow hunting and
gun hunting. And he was a ballroom dancer for 20 years, as well as an instructor. Price says data show that age-related illnesses may be caused by a sedentary lifestyle. “Master athletes from ages 40 to 80 show greater maintenance of muscle mass,” Price says. “Part of my story is I’d like to think if we oldsters get excited, there is still excitement to be had.”
There’s always the possibility that someone in the world will break my record, and you can never be sure when that will happen, so you enjoy it for the moment.” — Steve Price
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