14 Feb Ben Sheard XPC prep

Currently I am in contest prep for the XPC, which is about 2.5 weeks away right now. I am looking to beat my last total of 1956 @198lbs, and look forward to a good battle with 3 other solid guys in my weight class.

Last Thursday was my last heavy bench for the prep. Bench is definitely my weakest lift, but I’m starting to slowly learn the Inzer SDP. Working top sets were 440 to 1/2 board, 465 and 485 to a 1 board, 500 to a 2 board, and 500 RB to the chest. I had some trouble at the top with 500 off the 2 board, but I’m not too concerned. My best so far in a meet is only 463, so anything over my opener will be a PR.

Squats on Saturday gave me more trouble than I would have liked to have for my last heavy squat day. I took a projected opener of 750 which went great. My stability is always in question on heavy squats, and it was apparent for 805. My best in a meet so far is 804. I will be focusing on tuning up my setup and execution on squat over the next 2.5 weeks before I head into this meet. I always do my McGill Big 3 warmups before every training day, which is going to help me over time with those areas of concern.

I came into deadlifts on Monday really wanting to walk away with a big PR. I pulled 705 the week before, and knew that there was alot left in the tank. After warming up with McGill Big 3, and some glute activation with the hip circle, I started getting into my pulls. Everything was feeling a little rough, but on video the pulls were fast. I took my last warmup of 585 straps down and put on a projected opener of 650. The speed on it looked fast, and I wanted to walk out of there content with something around 95%. 720 went on the bar. It came off the floor fast, and as I tried finishing the lift it slipped out of my hands. My grip has never failed me before, but I looked down and there was my first large callus tear. After some advice by teammates I shut it down.
Right now I am focusing on healing up and heading up to Jacksonville to tune everything in this weekend. I will be ready for this meet, and I will get that 2000+ total.

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Ben Sheard

Ben Sheard started powerlifting at age 13, competing in single ply from 1999-2004 back in his home state of Ohio. He started powerlifting again in 2014 after struggling with substance abuse/addiction for over 10 years. Competing as a raw powerlifter, he achieved an Elite Total at 198 lbs. Best raw lifts at 198 are 611 squat, 352 bench, and a 606 lb deadlift. Recently made a transition to Multi-Ply in 2017. Coached by Brian Carroll using 10/20 Life, he achieved a Pro Total in his most recent meet at 198lbs. Best equipped lifts in a meet are an 804 squat, a weak 463 bench, and a 700lb deadlift. He is a NASM certified PT, but works full time as a Supervisor at a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center in Deerfield Beach, FL. Currently training out of Boynton Barbell Center in Boynton Beach, FL. Ben will be competing next at the XPC Pro Day in Columbus, where he looks to secure a 2,000+ lb total at 198.

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