Obese to World Record Holder!
Sets 3rd World Record, to Inspire Others to Overcome Obesity!!
Dances Her Way into the Record Books
Dance Dance Revolution Guinness 2012
Sponsors for Guinness DDR 2012
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21 hours 56 minutes 26 seconds
On August 11-12, 2012 at Camelot Park in Bakersfield, CA, I reset the Guinness Book of World Records for the Longest Marathon on a Dance/Rhythm Game using Dance Dance Revolution X2 with a time of 21 hrs 56 min 26 sec. I danced my way into the Record Books by becoming a 3 time World Record Holder, the only female to have held and broke this record twice, and to my understanding becoming the only person to hold both the Dance Dance Revolution and Dance Central 2 marathon record at the same time!
Within 1 year 1 month, I have set 3 World Records for marathon play on dance video games, ran 10 5k races, 6 Half Marathons, and 1 Full Marathon. I have no idea how I got here. I've been chasing a dream for 12 years that I never slowed down to realize that I exceeded my own expectations. 12 years ago, I was 210 pounds, plus size 18-20, and living my life in the past. I then discovered Dance Dance Revolution and dreamed of one day taking 3rd place in a local tournament and ranking #10 in our local DDR ladder, but I never thought it would become reality. The arcade community gave me something to aspire to. 12 years later, I would lose 75 pounds, attend 2 DDR US Championships, be a demonstrator for Konami for DDR, write 4 grants to get exergaming equipment in my 2nd grade classroom, be sponsored by Konami for my 1st out of 3 World Records, win an Inspirational athlete award, become a Nuun Ambassador as an athlete, and become a advocate to fight childhood obesity in our school systems. All while breaking boundaries for females in their mid 30s who used to be obese in the gaming world. By doing Guinness Attempts, I hope to show that when you find something you love and stick with it, you can achieve anything in this world. Never give up on your dreams and the fight to overcome obesity! On August 11th, History will be Made!!
At 36, I never imagined I would be going for my 3rd World Record. 12 years ago I was 210 pounds, plus 18-20, and living my life in the past. Then I discovered exergaming, lost 75 pounds, and became a 2 time World Record Holder! It's simply amazing! Never give up on your dreams!
On August 11, 2012 at Camelot Park in Bakersfield, CA, I'll be attempting to reset the Guinness Book of World Record for the Longest Marathon on a Dance/Rhythm Game by dancing over 24 hours on Dance Dance Revolution. The current record is set at 20 hrs 24 min 43 sec. To my understanding becoming the only female to have broke this record twice. Previously I set this World Record using Dance Dance Revolution Supernova 2 in July 2011 with a time of 16 hrs 9 min at the US Obesity Prevention Summit in West Virginia. I'll also make history, by becoming the only person to hold both World Records for Dance Dance Revolution and Dance Central 2 at the same time. Pending Guinness review, on June 16-17, 2012 in Bakersfield, CA I set a new World Record for the Longest Marathon on a Motion-Sensing Dance Game using Dance Central 2 with a time of 24 hrs 2 min 44 sec. To my knowledge, I am the only female to have ever held the Guinness World Record for Dance Dance Revolution or Dance Central 2 on marathon play. Exergaming is mainly dominated by the youth and males. I'm redefining exergaming, by being a 36 year old female who used to be obese. I wanted to do this Guinness attempt in my hometown, Bakersfield, CA, because I'm hoping to bring awareness to a fun way to fight obesity in my local community. It's been 12 unforgettable years playing Dance Dance Revolution. In the summer of 2000 I fell in love with Dance Dance Revolution, little did I know it would change my life. The arcade community gave me something to aspire to. I dreamed of one day being able to play in local tournaments and taking 3rd place. While chasing a dream, I went from being 210 pounds, plus size 18-20, and obese, to losing 75 pounds, and becoming a 2 time World Record Holder! Through all of this, I have never forgot the obstacles I have overcome and endured from being obese. I beat the odds of being a female gamer, obese, and aging in the process to becoming a 2 time World Record Holder. I never take anything for granted, but embrace the moment. I dedicate every Guinness attempt I do, to bring awareness and inspire anyone who is struggling with obesity. My greatest accomplishment is being able to incorporate my passion for exergaming into my 2nd grade classroom. Over the past 2 years I have written 4 grants through Donorschoose.org getting video games that promote fitness as a way to fight childhood obesity in the school systems. While training for this Guinness attempt, I took the Presidential Challenge which now includes video games that promote physical activity. I have had the honor of being featured in the California Educator Magazine, Weekly Reader High School Edition, President's Council on Fitness Video, and being invited to make my record setting Guinness attempt for Dance Dance Revolution at the US Obesity Prevention Summit in West Virginia in July 2011. In January 2012, I won the Inspired By You: Inspirational Athlete Contest at Bauerfeind Performance Center. In January 2012, I was also featured as gamer of the week for GamerFitNation.com where and gaming and health come together. On June 15, 2012 I became the newest Nuun Ambassador for nuun.com. Nuun is the healthy side of hydration and electrolyetes for athletes! I have made the transition from being a gamer to being an endurance athlete. Through all of this, I feel as if I am just getting started as what I can achieve as an endurance athlete who platform is on video games. Video games have transformed my life and in the process I found me. Over the years, I have seen a shift in dialogue with students. Their language consist of the world around them, Video Games. So, why not introduce them to the healthy side of gaming. By doing this Guinness attempt, I hope to make an impact on my local community with fighting obesity. 1 out of 3 people in the central valley are considered obese and 30 % of the children in Kern County are considered obese. With an increasing amount of bad-air days each year, exergaming is a great indoor physical activity that can be used to stay healthy. By doing this Guinness attempt, I hope to bring awareness to a fantastic way to fight obesity for all ages! 
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