Start Strong: How to Train to Break a Record with Mike Aidala

There's this old-timey strongman lift called the Two Hands Anyhow — where you use one hand to lift a weight overhead, then your other to lift another, any way you can — and Arthur Saxon set a record lift of 447 pounds that hasn't been broken in over 120 years. That is until now, or at least that's the record Mike Aidala's aiming to add to his resume.

If you're unfamiliar with Mike Aidala's work, just take a moment to google him and watch some of his many world record lifts and feats of incredible strength and determination. In 2025 he made the 255-pound world record single arm turkish get-up look like his warm-up, was previously the world record holder for most weight lifted by Turkish get-up in one hour, and has tackled over 20 ultramarathons with more coming down the pipeline.

We sat down with Aidala to get into the weeds about his record attempts, both past and upcoming, and to learn what it really takes to train to break a record.

Building a Routine to Break a Record

Aidala's training to attempt to break the Two Hands Anyhow world record, as seen above in the image on the right, and he's laying down the groundwork for you to break the record you've got your eyes on. 

Step 1: Choose the Record You Want to Break

Aidala's been training for the Two Hands Anyhow on and off for about a year, although, he's been lifting heavy for decades. But how did he come to a place where he knew he wanted to even tackle this record attempt? "I just try to let myself love the things that I am interested in, and then slowly pull on those threads of interest," he says. He liked the turkish get-up, saw there was a record for it, and thought, "I wonder what I can do?"

It's about allowing yourself to try something and setting a goal that's intrinsically motivating. "Make sure it's something you enjoy, rather than you enjoy it because other people say it's a good goal," says Aidala. "Ask yourself, why is this a goal [I'm] interested in? Because it's not all sunshine and rainbows on the road to achieving [it]. But reflecting back on why you want to do it will help you maintain motivation for that goal."

Step 2: Personalized Training Routine

"A record is something new — it hasn't been done before — so there's not necessarily a playbook for how to train for it," says Aidala. The skills and abilities needed to tackle different records will vary, meaning your training will need to be personalized to support your specifc goal.

Still, Aidala, who lifts three to four times a week, emphasizes practicing how you want to perform. For extreme feats of strength, like hoisting more the 447 pounds overhead, he attempts max lifts only two or three times a month. "It's like a mom lifting a car to save a child. You have to [summon] that sort of tenacity, and that isn't something you do every week," he explains.

Outside of practicing the actual record, Aidala recommends breaking the goal into smaller, manageable pieces — targeting weaker areas and steadily building the foundation needed to succeed. 

Step 3: Fuel Your Performance

"Eat for the performance you want to have," says Aidala, recommending quality whole-foods and protein. "Then carbohydrates around my training sessions." 

Protein intake throughout the day helps suport muscle repair, with many athletes aiming for about 1.4-2 grams per kilogram of bodyweight per day. Including a mix of lean meats, eggs, legumes, or protein supplements can help meet your recovery and performance needs.

Similarly, consider your choice of carbohydrates when fueling. Simple carbs, like fruit, white rice, and white bread, provide energy quickly and are best consumed right before and after you train, while complex carbs, like oats, sweet potatoes, and bens, provide steady energy throughout the day.

Step 4: Recovery is Non-Negotiable

Recovery like sleep and rest days are a must. "Sleep isn't the sexiest thing to talk about, but it's the most important," says Aidala. Most people perform best with 7-9 hours of sleep. If Aidala knows he won't get the quality sleep he needs, he'll adjust his training load or shift his session to align with his sleep schedule.

He also relies on sauna sessions, which research has linked to reduced stress, inflammation, and risk of heart disease — plus improved sleep.

For managing mental load, Aidala uses a simple anaology: "Hove you ever played Mortal Kombat? You know the life bar on the bottom of the screen? As you take hits, it drops. That's how I think of nervous system stress in my day." Lifting, coaching, paperwork, and daily responsibilities all chip away at that "life bar." "So, depending on what's most important, I have to budget how much of that energy I can spend."

Step 5: Visualization

Visualization is a common tool used for athletes, and research suggests it can activate many of the same neural pathways as physical practice. It can improve focus, enhance confidence, and support better decision-making under pressure. 

"I like to visualize specific parts of the lift," says Aidala, refering to the multiple steps required in the Two Hands Anyhow. He chooses to focus on the parts of the lift that require the most focus and attention, usually pieces he's less profident at or that require greater skill. 

To do this, find a quiet space and close your eyes. See your form, hear your footsteps, and sense the sweat on your brow. Visualize yourself tackling the record you want to break, perfectly.

Step 6: Prioritize Your Goals

"You almost need to become obsessed with [your goal], and that comes at a cost, because it will take attention away from other aspects in [your] life," says Aidala, noting he doesn't have as much time for other things like mindlessly watching TV.

"They're not necessarily sacrifices, because I enjoy working towards these goals," he adds. Aidala frames it another way: think in seasons. This season, you train hard. The next season, you make time for the things you missed out on.

Step 7: Enjoy the Process

Enjoy the process — the effort, the wins, and the loses. "Enjoy it more," says Aidala, when asked what he would tell his younger self. When you focus on the journey, rather than the results, every training session, challenge, and small improvement becomes meaningful. 

"Between training and my graduate work in potivie psychology, I've become more interested in what hard physical challenges do to attention and identity," he says. It's not just about reaching the goal — it's about learning, growing, and finding satisfaction in the effort.

REP® and Purist® Recommendations

To help you reach your goals, here are equipment and supplement recommendations from REP Fitness:

• PR-5000 Power Rack
• Black Diamond™ Power Bar
• Bumper Plates
• Equalizer™ Urethane-Coated Plates
• Kettlebells
• Hex Dumbbells
• High Density Foam Roller
• Purist® Hydration
• Purist® Whey Protein
• Purist® Pre-Workout
• Purist® Creatine Plus

Takeaway

Aidala has just a few months to add 42 pounds to his lift to claim the Two Hands Anyhow world record. In that time, he'll stay committed to his training, proper fueling, and intentional recovery. If you're aiming to break a record yourself, follow his step-by-step guide and approach each session with focus, consistency, and patience. But most of all, remember to enjoy the process.

Rosie Borchert is a NASM-CPT, former Nike Volleyball coach, and writer whose work has appeared on BarBend, Tonal, ABC, Netflix, and Amazon Studios. If anyone would like to hire her to play beach volleyball, snowboard, binge watch TV, or go climbing, please get in touch.

This article was reviewed by Ashley Boyer, ACE-CPT, for accuracy.