Washington Man Sets Pullup Record on His 43rd Birthday

Lance Pecht had a simple question on his 43rd birthday: Why shouldn't he be the best in the world at something?

So he walked into Body Unlimited Fitness in Spokane Valley last Sunday and broke an unofficial world record. The former Whitworth University basketball player completed 31 grappler pullups in one minute, beating the previous Guinness World Record of 29 set by Elias Benz in Switzerland.

Grappler pullups are no ordinary exercise. Athletes must grip two lacrosse balls placed over a pullup bar, forcing their wrists to flex while using forearm tension to pull their entire body up and over the bar.

"It puts way more pressure on your hands, wrists, forearms, all through the lats and back and chest," Pecht explained. "It hits every muscle."

The challenge was even tougher for Pecht because of his size. At 235 pounds with longer limbs than most competitors, he had to lift more weight over greater distances with each repetition.

Natalie Joseph, owner of Body Unlimited Fitness, helped Pecht train for months. They worked together on technique and form, tweaking his approach to maximize his strength while accounting for his larger frame.

Dressed in his signature red and black flannel with the sleeves cut off (earning him the gym nickname "the Lumberjack"), Pecht faced multiple cameras set up to document every angle. Despite unofficially breaking the record during training, he still felt nervous before his official attempt.

"I think that would be kind of embarrassing to have some buildup for one minute and then not be able to follow through," he said.

When Pecht finished his 31st pullup, the gym erupted in cheers and applause. His hard work had paid off, but the journey isn't over yet.

Why This Inspires

Pecht's achievement reminds us that personal records aren't reserved for professional athletes or young people. He spent 43 years wondering if he could be the best at something, then decided to find out instead of just wondering.

His record still needs official certification from Guinness, a process that could take 12 weeks of video review and paperwork verification. But Pecht isn't resting on his accomplishments.

After celebrating his birthday with good food and drinks, he's already looking ahead to other fitness world records he can tackle. Sometimes the best way to mark another year of life is by proving what your body can still achieve.