Jenny Doan is attempting to set a world record for hula hooping for 100 hours.
Jenny Doan didn't know what to expect when she began using hula hoops as part of her indoor fitness routine.
She decided to break a record that seemed impossible after listening to a motivational speech about pushing one's mental and physical boundaries.
The Chicago resident went from researching the Guinness World Records title for longest marathon hula hooping in high school to becoming the record holder herself less than 10 years later.
Jenny decided to go for the marathon hula hooping record after 6 years of searching.
I wanted to push my limits to the extreme.I had done other endurance feats, like cycling across Canada, but I knew I could do more.
I wanted to see if I could push myself and work hard enough to be the best in the world.
Jenny knew that the previous record was 75 hours of continuous hooping, so she got creative with her training regimen.
She modified a 16-week program that was meant for runners who are preparing for a 50 mile race but replaced the distance with hours of hula hooping.
On weekends she would hoop for 50 hours, using the official record guidelines for practice, and on Wednesday nights she included hula hooping while they watched.
They watched all eight Fast and Furious movies while hula hooping.
She spent four days hula hooping at a brewery in West Chicago in November to raise money for Mental Health America, a cause she firmly believed in.
I live streamed the event to raise money and awareness for Mental Health America, which provides resources and support to Americans living with mental illness.
I shared my experiences with depression in order to help other people.
It is possible to overcome mental illness, it is not always easy or fast.
I saw a lot of parallels in my record training, in terms of trying to keep making progress, dealing with setbacks and maintaining hope.
It took a lot of strength and courage for Jenny to get to 100 hours.
She only slept for four hours during the entire attempt.
The hula hoop traveled around Jenny's waist for over 200 miles.
She needed to set a new record because she only went up to 50 hours in her rehearsals.
Jenny had her friends and family spurring her on to raise money for her charity.
My parents inspire me the most.They were born in Vietnam and moved to Australia in the late 1980's without knowing the language.
My siblings and I will have more opportunities in life because of their strength.
"As an adult, they have shared stories of their hardship and proven that they can overcome any challenge, with enough hard work and a strong support network."
Jenny achieved a final total of 100 hours, raising $4,890 for Mental Health America, by the time she wrapped up her attempt.
She set out what she wanted to do, which was looking beyond the limitations and boundaries to reach her fullest potential.