George Hood, a fitness enthusiast and retired United States Marine, breaks the Guinness World Record for "longest time in an abdominal plank position", smashing his own previous record of three hours and seven minutes set in 2013. [Photo/China Daily]

Four hours and one minute is long enough for a round-trip flight between Beijing and Shanghai, or for watching a long movie like The Lord of the Rings.

But how about maintaining your body in the physically demanding plank position?

Sounds impossible but George Hood, a fitness enthusiast and retired United States Marine, did it on Monday in Beijing, breaking the Guinness World Record for "longest time in an abdominal plank position", smashing his own previous record of three hours and seven minutes set in 2013.

Hood was invited to challenge himself in the isometric strength exercise, which is held in a push-up position, with the body's weight borne on forearms, elbows and toes, at the inaugural Plank World Cup held in the Chinese capital over the weekend.

Hood was cheered on by a group of supportive Chinese fans, who encouraged the 56-year-old and even joined him in holding the position when he caught up with his former record.

The World Cup also attracted more than 2,000 plank enthusiasts who maintained the exercise position together on Sunday, making another Guinness World Record for most people doing the plank simultaneously.

Planking celebrities such as real estate tycoon Pan Shiyi and former US ambassador to China Gary Locke were also at the World Cup.