Altus smashes one million push-up and crunch challenge

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Myles Stepp
  • 97 Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
June 16 2010 --  ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. - June 1 marked the ending of a 1 million push-up/crunch challenge program ran by the fitness center, finishing at approximately 1,480,000 push-ups and crunches.

This is the program's third year running and at the end of each year's challenge, the fitness center acknowledges the male and female individuals who completed their portion of the team's total numbers of push-ups and crunches. A total of 19 teams with 10 military and civilian personnel make up the program. This year's team winners are the Voodoo Children. Voodoo Children's members are team captain Melissa Guinan, Annamarie Mason, Sam Mason, Ron Terry, John Thomas, Amy Abernathy, Jill Richards, Nancy Evans, "LA Ray" and Jordan Abernathy.

The fitness center recognizes individual winners as well as team winners. The male and female winners for completing their 10,000 committed push-ups and crunches first are Melissa Guinan and Master Sgt. Corando Pena. Guinan teaches power hour classes at the fitness center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and conducts Pilates classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"I'm very competitive and I just love to win." said Guinan.

Master Sgt. Pena began training for the challenge two weeks prior, starting out at anywhere from 50-150 push-ups and crunches a day. During the challenge, Pena was executing approximately 250-450 push-ups and crunches day.

"I was actually kind of surprised when I found out I won. I'm 46 years old and I thought for sure a young guy half my age would finish before me. Taking 21 days to complete my portion isn't too bad for an older guy." said Pena.

Eric Catchings and Lena Moreau, fitness center employees, organized this challenge to encourage members to exercise and stay fit for life.

For more information on the 1 million push-up and crunch challenge program call the Fitness Center, 481-7440.