275,000 Glory-Seekers Participate in Guinness World Records Day

(Nov. 18) -- On Guinness World Records Day, hearts were broken along with records

More than 275,000 record-breakers from around the planet attempted to set a stunning array of records in hopes of taking a stab at immortality.

The event was created in 2004 to commemorate the day (Nov. 18) when Guinness World Records became the world's best-selling copyright book. Since then, it has been an annual celebration of the lengths people will go to to be the best at something, no matter how obscure.

Guinness World Records

Ashrita Furman, who owns more than 120 Guinness world records, set another by walking 33 feet in shoes weighing 322 pounds.

For instance, Ashrita Furman, a 56-year-old manager of a health food stores in Queens, N.Y., added to his record of Most Guinness Records Held by One Person by walking 33 feet in shoes that weighed a total of 322 pounds.

"I strained my neck and hip muscles slightly, but it was a thrill to challenge the record," said Furman, who flew to London to set the record. "I actually try to clear my mind of all thoughts as I'm doing a record, but I remember thinking while walking that this is difficult but, at the same time, so much fun!"

As a result, Furman currently holds 122 records.

But even though he broke a record, he also ended the day a little heartbroken himself.

"I was hoping to also do the record for balancing the tallest object on one's chin -- a 60-foot pole -- but it was too windy," he lamented to AOL News.

Other records that were set on Guinness World Records Day include:

Most Consecutive Double-Dutch Skips (371), which was set by the Summerwind Skippers double-Dutch team of Boise, Idaho.
Most Dogs in Costumed Attire (426), which was set at Highlander Park in Dunedin, Fla.
Largest Voodoo Doo Doll (21 feet, 8 inches), which was built in New Orleans.
World's Tallest Married Couple (13 feet, 4.4 inches), which was set by Laurie and Wayne Hallquist, of Stockton, Calif. He's 6 feet 10.4 inches, and she's 6 feet 5.95 inches.
Fastest Human Crab (20 meters in 8.03 seconds), which was set by 14-year-old Cameron Jones of Seattle.

All of this activity is a positive thing for Guinness and the world, according to Craig Glenday, the editor of Guinness World Records.

"Guinness World Records Day highlights the very reason Guinness World Records exists," Glenday said. "To witness hundreds of thousands of people having a go at these incredible feats inspires the best in everyone and proves that humans are limited only by their own will and imagination."

But for every person who broke a record broken, there was a heart broken for some who wasn't up to the challenge.

When 426 pooches wore crazy outfits in Dunedin, Florida, they set a world record for Most Dogs in Costumed Attire.

Guinness World Records

When 426 pooches wore crazy outfits in Dunedin, Fla., they set a world record for Most Dogs in Costumed Attire.

For example, "Today" show hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb failed in their attempt to set a record for Most M&M's Eaten with Chopsticks in One Minute.

Amazingly, despite all the record-breaking going on, Guinness World Records officials didn't measure whether the day set a record for Most World Records Set or Broken in One Day.

Guinness World Records U.S. spokesman Stuart Claxton says the organization hasn't kept tabs on that because it's "so self-serving, and this day is all about the people."