I am beyond thrilled to announce my new website: RecordBreakerRush.com and the new promo video that goes along with it.
Here’s the promo video
I retired from tech this year to pursue my dual passions of helping others accomplish more than they ever thought possible by breaking their own records and promoting STEM education.
David “Record Breaker” Rush is an engaging, talented, and inspirational speaker helping companies create a culture of record breaking through growth and thrive during challenging times. David has broken more than 250 Guinness World Records that have been viewed/heard over 150 million times, and was startup product manager #1 at a tech unicorn. David believes every person and organization is capable of breaking records and achieving more than they ever thought possible.
David’s unparalleled value proposition includes world records, startup product management experience, international news coverage, combined with audience engagement from being a juggler and entertainer. He can inspire businesses to think in new and challenging ways. With an EE degree from MIT and MBA from BSU, David brings intelligence, experience, and entertainment to any event.
One little mistake and it’s over. And that’s exactly what happened. The furthest distance traveled on a unicycle while juggling continuously is a beast.
I can juggle very consistently but when you add a unicycle to the mix it obviously makes it a lot harder. Most unicycles have a 20-inch wheel which means you have a lot of leverage when you press with your feet, the challenge there is they only go about 5 miles per hour. When you’re trying to cover distance it’s much better to have a bigger wheel so I bought a 36-inch wheel specifically for this record.
It turns out it’s not as easy to ride as a 20-inch wheel. I had to relearn how to ride with far less leverage and try to average nearly 10 miles per hour (one rotation of the wheel takes you a lot further). I can do that for 30 minutes but then I lose circulation with all my weight seated in the same place. To regain circulation I had to stand up in the saddle which not only required me to learn a new skill, but it also tires out the legs shockingly fast. That’s not good when you’re trying to ride for a really long time. The more tired the legs, the more likely a mistake which ends the attempt. I had to build up endurance. I took 100 Peloton bike rides. I ran. And of course, I rode the unicycle while juggling. I rode around the neighborhood, I rode on the greenbelt path along the river, and I rode around the track.
After 4 years of preparation and 6 months of serious training, I was finally ready to make the attempt.
I started early on a Sunday morning and had to ride 20,000 meters to break the current official record of 12 miles and 18 miles to break the unofficial record. I ended up going a little further than both of them put together.
Despite 2 bugs in my eyes, wearing a hydration back in my mouth the entire time, gusts of wind, 3 near drops, wobbly legs, camera battery troubles, and general fatigue; it was over 3 hours and 20 minutes before I finally had 2 balls collide (just ever so slightly) that resulted in a drop and the end of the record attempt. I broke the previous official record of 12 miles by nearly 20 miles held by Jeremy Walker. (Jeremy also held the unofficial record of 18 miles but never submitted it to Guinness).
I rode 123 laps plus 270 meters for a total distance of 49,473 meters or 30.74 miles.
My hip flexor was so tight it got a small tear in it later in the day and I couldn’t run again for over a month.
I have held this record on three separate occasions. The first time was in 2016. I balanced a chainsaw on my chin for 3 minutes and 1 second breaking my 4th ever Guinness World Records title. It was surpassed by a mark of 5 minutes so I doubled it with a run of 10 minutes in 2017.
Then that was beaten by a run of 20 minutes so I came back after it with a growth mindset and now hold the record at 37 minutes 56 seconds – over an order of magnitude longer than my first attempt (which I was very happy with, by the way.
This time I built up the strength and endurance to go longer than I ever had before. I stood there knowing I could do it and I pushed through the pain. I was focused and could have even gone a little longer but I backed into the fireplace with my legs and couldn’t keep my chin in the chainsaw and it fell off (into my gloved hands).
Some records are deceptively easy. Some are deceptively difficult. This one was the latter.
Juggling is my specialty. I can do it on a balance board. I can do it on a unicycle. I can do it blindfolded. I can do it on a balance board and a unicycle blindfolded. I can do it fast. I can do it slow. I can do it throwing the balls down with bounce juggling – surely I can do it while suspended upside down.
Turns out, I couldn’t.
The record for most balls juggled while suspended upside down was 4. I could surely get 5 to break the record. Well, it took me so many tries over so long a period that someone else got 5 in the meantime and it’s now a 2-way tie for the Guinness World Records title (and yes, ties are allowed). It took a growth mindset and grit
Five and a half years after one of the most painful experiences of my life, I was finally invited back on the TODAY Show. Last time I was supposed to break the Guinness World Record’s title for the fastest blindfolded juggling. I got so nervous I kept dropping the balls and didn’t break the record. I never knew if I’d have another chance to reach that audience. This week I finally did.
I was invited to the TODAY Show to talk about my mission to break 52 Guinness World Records titles in 2021 to promote STEM education. I talked about how a growth mindset helped me and can help kids develop the confidence they need to get over their struggles with math or science and become an engineer.
It was a much lower pressure situation than last time since I didn’t actually need to break a record. The big surprise came when they invited the Guinness adjudicator, Michael Embry, onto the set to virtually present me with 2 certificates for newly adjudicated records including the most 3-beat poi weaves in one minute.
I broke the record last year while on vacation with my family. My first attempt was in front of the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy. I was on pace to break the record but at 56 seconds in the strings got tangled up and I just barely missed the record mark. The police who were watching came up to me right after and said “you are done?” It wasn’t a question.
I made another attempt when we got to Le Cornglia in Cinco Terra. The hardest part of this record after getting the poi up to speed is maintaining the stamina to complete the full minute. The poi are moving at over 60 miles per hour and the torque exerted on my arms is intense. The exhaustion is real.
On this attempt I completed 83 3-beat poi weaves in one minute breaking the previous Guinness World Records mark of 80 in one minute.
Today I’m back where it all started, revisiting my very first Guinness World Records title from October of 2015: the longest duration blindfolded juggling.
As many of you know I’ve been promoting STEM education for over a dozen years and 7 years ago I wanted to break a Guinness World Records title to create a tangible example that if you set your mind to a goal, believe in yourself, and pursue it with a passion, you can accomplish virtually anything. It has led to a wild ride.
Funnyman juggler Niels Dunkier held the record at 6 minutes 29 seconds and actually got me back into juggling by tipping me off to juggling balls I wasn’t allergic to after I met him on a Disney cruise. (Most juggling balls used to be filled with millet seed that I developed a terrible allergy to). When I finally broke the record in front of a live audience, I was so excited that when the crowd cheered I overthrew a ball and immediately dropped it extended the record just 5 seconds to just 6 minutes 34 seconds.
I came back one year later with a 22 minutes 7-second run. No one has touched that number in over 5 years.
Dubbed the blindfolded juggler by Hoda on the Today Show, I’ve gone on to break several other blindfolded world records, including some of the hardest I’ve faced: like The fastest mile run while juggling blindfolded: 7 minutes 54 seconds. (and over a third of a mile for furthest distance on foot juggling blindfolded). Even harder: the fastest 100 m dash while juggling blindfolded: 16.29 seconds. You have to stay in your lane!
Others include the fastest blindfolded juggling with 454 catches in one minute, faster than any other known cascade juggler with their eyes open. Most consecutive blindfolded juggling catches on a unicycle, and on a balance board. And some silly ones like the most socks removed in a minute while blindfolded (and yes, I practice multiple times for that one).
So after a 5-year hiatus and returning to my very first Guinness World Records title. I give you, a video I expect no one to watch in its entirety on normal speed: the longest duration blindfolded juggling – with a new mark of 32 minutes 7 seconds.
This is the furthest I’ve ever gone for a Guinness World Record: 35 miles.
The record was for the farthest distance traveled on an electric unicycle while juggling. I’ve had it on my list for years but I didn’t have an electric unicycle. My friend Matt McGuinness picked up one at a pawn shop a while ago. This is typical of my friend. Also typical is he also bough a 2-wheeled Segway that you steer with the knees (no handlebars) and that’s what he uses to get around so he offered me his electric unicycle.
On the first day I tried it I could barely get on and go around the car. By the second day I could ride it without holding on to something else. Within a week I was able to ride it 10 miles while juggling and the battery died. Even though the record was recently broken at about 2 miles (it was 1 when I applied), I decided I wanted to try for more. Riding an electric unicycle is also super fun so I was excited to practice.
I contacted eWheels.com who were super helpful and offered me a Kingsong unicycle to ride. It had an advertised range of 35 miles and a top speed of 17 MPH. I was happy to go faster than the 10 MPH the other one I had since it’s a distance-based record, not time. They even put on the big foot steps since they knew I was planning to stand on it for a long time. And it turns out the hardest part of this record for me was keeping my feet from falling asleep. I had to practice lifting up my heels and toes alternating as well as sliding my feet around to keep them awake. Note that you must maintain the exact same amount of weight on each foot the entire time or the unicycle falls over.
After several long practice rides I was ready to make the official attempt. I rode around the track with a camera mounted to my helmet and two fixed cameras on tripods. I was a little nervous for the first few laps which made my juggling a bit wobbly but after a couple miles I settled in. My feet ached and I had a couple nasty itches on my arms that wouldn’t go away, but it all went to plan. The record fell in less than 10 minuts and then I kept going for another two and a half hours.
The pace was pretty consistant for the first 25 miles before the battery started to go. At 30 miles it went even faster and the pace was dropping off precipitously. I wasn’t going to be able to finish another mile so I jumped off after the 141st lap and 35 miles.
Over 6,000 miles and hundreds of training runs later, I can now claim to be the world’s fastest man***
***while juggling blindfolded.
Usain Bolt, nor any other person on the face of the planet can claim to run the 100m dash faster than me while juggling blindfolded. I completed the distance in 16.29 seconds beating the Guinness minimum mark of 20 seconds. (I didn’t create this record, but no one has ever been able to break it).
I broke this record to celebrate Guinness World Record’s Day 2021 (celebrated Nov. 17). I had 3 records featured in the official Guinness Video starting at 15:50 including last week’s record for most consecutive axe juggling catches and this one.
But I’ve been trying to break this record since I first applied for it in August of 2017. I’ve made other official attempts at it with the team but I was never able to complete the 100 meters with my eyes blindfolded while staying in my lane. Yes, Guinness World Records requires the participant to stay in the lane.
I have the record for the fastest mile run while juggling blindfolded (which I also can’t really believe I broke) but I didn’t have to stay in my lane for that one. While breaking it, I completed a 1/3 mile stretch without dropping a ball (drops were allowed and I made 10, but you had to go back to where you dropped it, don the blindfold, and start again). Running 100 meters juggling blindfolded is well within my skill range.
For the 100 meter dash, the main challenge for me was staying in my lane. The other impossible part of it is accelerating quickly since I have to throw the balls forward and catch up to them. Running at a constant speed isn’t nearly as hard since I just juggle normal and the balls and body are moving at the same speed relative to each other. I did lots of sprint starts juggling with my eyes closed to prepare for this one.
It took 22 fails but I finally completed the 100 meters juggling while staying in my lane. But as we were collecting evidence I discovered that all 6 videographers had shut off their cameras after the run was complete. Guinness requires all evidence to be gathered on one continuous shot. I may have been able to make a case since the blindfold was inspected before the run but the measuring on the lane width was on a separate shot. (I was allowed to increase the width to 48 inches per IAAF rules since the high school track I was using only had 40-inch lanes, and I needed the extra 8 inches!
What’re a few more tries after over 6,000 miles of training? After a few more attempts, my goal of over 5 years was complete with a run of 16.29 seconds!
I ran my first juggling half marathon after 2 practice runs and in 2005 my juggling career began. 7 years later I started tracking my runs with RunKeeper.
What kid didn’t watch the Olympics growing up dreaming of being the fastest man in the world? I found a way, even if I did have to make it the most niche category there is?
Happy Guinness World Records Day 2017! November 17th is the special day and I have two exciting records to celebrate. This week I reclaim the record for most consecutive axe juggling catches and next week I break a record no one has ever been able to break before and is quite possibly the hardest record I have ever broken. Be sure to check back next Sunday!
Last time I broke this record I got 839 consecutive catches at the X-games in Boise over 3 years ago. The record stood at 937 catches but this time but I didn’t just want to break it this time, I wanted to crush it.
After months of practice, including going on joggling runs with tennis balls filled with pennies, juggling bowling balls, and lots of curls with dumbbells, I was finally ready to take back the record. It took several official attempts over several days because once I dropped an axe after a long run, I was pretty much done for the day since it took so much out of me.
I juggled for 21 minutes 11 seconds and achieved 2,919 consecutive catches before I finally dropped an axe. I had several nicks on my hands that were bleeding by the end since I was juggling without much margin for error to conserve strength, but the most painful part of this attempt was hitting my knee caps with the axes. I chose to wear pants so fortunately, they didn’t cut me but the bruises hurt. I was pretty thrilled to be able to keep nearly 10 pounds in the air for over 21 minutes since these axes are almost 3 times the weight of the typical hatchet but just over the Guinness World Records minimum weight.
One question I’m often asked after breaking over 200 Guinness World Records is how I make them all up. I usually don’t. The vast majority were existing records broken by other people that I found through YouTube videos, the Guinness World records book, and the Guinness World Records website.
This record is the exception. Other than after I set the inaugural mark 3 years ago, however, it has been broken twice and I had to take it back.
The record is for the most consecutive juggling catches while balancing on a roller board. The minimum mark for Guinness to recognize it when I broke it 3 years ago was 15 catches. I got 52 and celebrated. Then it was broken by a professional juggler at a Guinness event with 74 catches. This last year Brenden Kelbie out of Australia got 159 consecutive catches tripling my initial mark.
There are few things I claim to be the best at, but 3 ball blind juggling is one of them. I have the records for longest duration blind juggling, fastest blind juggling (most catches in one minute), and the fastest mile run while juggling blind. Taking back the record for the roller board was surely within reach.
The hard part for me isn’t the blind juggling or balancing on a roller board, it’s the blind balance. I don’t think it matters if I’m juggling or not; balancing on the roller board while blind is just as hard.
After months of practice training my balance not to be reliant on vision just as my juggling doesn’t rely on vision, I was able to remain balanced for 3 minutes 19 seconds. To make the most out of those 3+ minutes I decided to speed juggle making over 6.6 catches per second. This was a most catches record and not a time duration record. 1,316 catches later, I nearly broke this record by an order of magnitude. Good luck to the challengers!
Promoting STEM education through my story and juggling
