Playing Hacky Sack is a kick, right? You can probably knock that dinky footbag around a time or two or three before it hits the floor.

Not bad, champ. Now imagine kicking it 51,155 consecutive times. That's the world record for Hacky Sack, or footbag, kicks, set by Ted Martin, 37, of Des Plaines. He did it in 7 hours, 1 minute and 37 seconds in '93 and made the Guinness Book of World Records. How does he do it?

"I don't know sometimes," he says. "You get hypnotized by it. After a certain point, it becomes too easy. But then you lull yourself into a false sense of confidence."

So he tries to stay focused. "You listen to music sometimes, but you've just got to try to keep your concentration on the ball and don't get too relaxed. You can't be too tense either."

OK. Concentrate. Be relaxed. But don't be too relaxed. But don't get too tense. Got it.

Martin tries for 10,000 kicks a day. He also rides an exercise bike and runs on a treadmill. Sometimes he'll play hockey or basketball with buds. But, mainly, Hacky Sack is his bag.

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Check out the Midwest Footbag Association's regional competition June 13-15 in Mt. Prospect. For info, call Scott Davidson at 773-237-9255. For more info on the sport, call the World Footbag Association at 800-878-8797.