How Truphena Muthoni achieved 72-hour tree hugging world record

Tree-planting ambassador and environmental activist Truphena Muthoni during her 72-hour tree-hugging challenge / Guinness World Records

Tree-planting ambassador and environmental activist Truphena Muthoni now holds the Guinness World Record for the longest tree-hugging marathon after her 72-hour feat was officially ratified on Monday.

Truphena successfully completed a 72-hour attempt that she says was designed to spark global reflection on climate action, environmental stewardship, and compassion for the planet.

The 22-year-old, who founded an initiative dubbed Hug the Earth, told Guinness World Records the feat was not just a test of endurance but a symbolic invitation for humanity to reconnect with nature.

“The first attempt was a statement, a way to reintroduce humanity to the Earth through a simple, intimate act,” she said.

“The second attempt was a commitment. I realized that the world needed more than symbolism; it needed endurance, consistency, and proof that care for the planet is not momentary.”

Muthoni, who is an ambassador for the government’s 15 Billion Trees Campaign, previously held the same record, having hugged a tree continuously for 48 hours.

She said the lessons from her initial attempt shaped her strategy the second time around.

“To prepare the first time, she engaged in dry fasting and reduced her water intake to train her body to go for long periods without it,” Guinness reported.

“However, I later realised this approach was a mistake, as it placed unnecessary strain on my kidneys and increased the risk of serious health complications,” she said.

She noted that overexerting physically in the lead-up to her first attempt had been driven by anxiety rather than strategy.

Ahead of the second attempt, she reoriented to what she described as balance and calm.

“I significantly increased my water intake in the weeks leading up to the challenge to properly condition my body and protect my organs, and I prepared in a calm, relaxed, and confident way,” she said.

According to Guinness World Records, Muthoni earned five minutes of rest for every hour of activity, which she could either take hourly or save for longer breaks.

The biggest hurdle this time was sleep deprivation rather than physical fatigue.

“Overall, the experience taught me that endurance is not about deprivation or intensity, but about preparation, balance, and respecting the body’s limits,” she explained.

Motivated by environmental advocacy, Muthoni framed the record as a platform to reframe public attitudes toward conservation.

“Healing the planet does not require violence, conflict, or fear. Hugging a tree shows that nature is not separate from us, it is family. If one person can stay connected for 72 hours, then surely humanity can learn to protect what still sustains us.”

She added that fostering emotional commitment to conservation could be as important as large-scale climate interventions.

Guinness reported that Muthoni also used the marathon to celebrate Indigenous knowledge systems, disability inclusion, and symbolic stewardship.

Her outfit and dyed hair were chosen to reinforce environmental messaging, while she donned a blindfold after surpassing her previous 48-hour record as a tribute to vulnerable communities and people living with disabilities.

Despite breaking the record twice, Muthoni said the achievement should not be viewed as self-serving.

“I see my record not as a personal victory, but as offering time back to the Earth, time for reflection, time for reconnection, and time to awaken collective responsibility,” she said.

The tree-planting The ambassador added that the experience taught her that leadership can also be defined by stillness rather than force.

Muthoni described herself as “profoundly humbled” by the international recognition and said she hopes her marathon attempts inspire broader environmental responsibility and a renewed ethic of care.