Whatever side of the fence you’re behind, you should train the deadlift sumo AND conventional. Why? They work synergistically to get you strong while minimizing weak points.

The deadlift program I’m going to outline will prepare you for both a heavy event and a high rep event. This will be perfect for those in strongman that are not given events for a specific contest.

How long will getting stronger continue? At what point, or age, or condition does deterioration begin? Am I racing a clock? Is my time on the platform limited?

This is the original deadlift routine Alwyn Cosgrove drew up for Shawn Frankl after he stalled in the mid- 700s.