Last week, Fivex3 Training hosted their 12th Annual Charm City Strongwoman Contest. They raised over $21,000 this year for the Ulman House, a home away from home for young adults getting treatment for cancer at local hospitals. Their total now comes to over $121,000 raised in the past 6 years!

HW Open 1st place winner, Anna Silbaugh, puts the 185 lb stone over the bar for reps. [photo courtesy of Fivex3 Training]

MW Open 1st place winner, Tracie Beauchamp, pulls a 6000 pound Bronco 50 feet. [photo courtesy of Fivex3 Training]

HW Novice 1st place winner, Maya Collins, pulls 405 lb for her third attempt on the Axle Bar Deadlift event. [photo courtesy of Fivex3 Training]

Our youngest StrongKids competitor, six-year-old Bryan, drags a 125 lb sled 50 feet. [photo courtesy of Fivex3 Training]

2023 Testify Strongman Summer Showdown was held June 17 at Testify Strength & Conditioning in Omaha, NE. The Epic Strongwoman award (Morgard the Manatee) went to Lauren Cruz, and the Epic Strongman award went to Hayden Smith. Full Results

Geneva locks out 130 lb in the log clean-and-press at the 7th annual Testify Strength & Conditioning Strongman Summer Showdown this weekend in Omaha, NE. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

Jake hustles to load the last of three stones onto the platform at this weekend's Testify Strongman Summer Showdown in Omaha, NE. [photo courtesy of Becky Meggers]

Tyler Holm launches the tire 29.1 ft for his second attempt at the tire throw at this weekend's Testify Strongman Summer Showdown. [photo courtesy of Barb Mueller]

In between coaching and working through the SSC Prep Course, Mike Sharp also finds time to pull 365 lb for 8 reps on the axle bar at the Testify Strongman Summer Showdown. [photo courtesy of Phil Meggers]

nathanm89

Trying to get as strong as possible and lift as much weight of course, I'm 200 pounds, long legs, long arms and a short torso. Reading the articles concerning deadlifting in heels there's a caveat concerning anthropometry. Would you recommend deadlifting in heels for someone with my proportions? FYI just ordered a 3" belt as the 4" prevents going below in the squat and starting position in the DL.

Mark Rippetoe

I'd have to see your start position.

nathanm89

Deadlift video

Screenshot

Mark Rippetoe

This looks just like everybody else's deadlift. It won't make that much difference. Try it and see.

Bigredbull

1) If the bar never leaves contact with the legs on the deadlift as you recommend, does the bar path ever deviate from a straight line, especially past the knees?

2) Are some lifter’s biomechanics better suited to a lower hip starting position? If so, what are the typical body types of these lifters?

Mark Rippetoe

1. No bar path is a perfectly straight line. That is the physical model, not the actual outcome.

2. Short legs/long back will appear to have a lower hips position with the bar over the mid-foot/shoulders just in front of the bar. This is discussed in the Blue Book.