Call it “CrossFit cul-de-sac,” unofficially. It’s where Ben Smith, his brother, his cousin and his friends work out: his parents’ house in Chesapeake, Va.

 

The 22-year-old Smith won this year’s Mid Atlantic Regionalafter finishing third at last year’s Reebok CrossFit Games.

 

This day revolves around three workouts, where Smith takes the lead training his family and friends.

 

“I think working out with anybody is going to push you to work out harder,” he says. “I don’t think you need somebody who’s in front of you beating you all the time. You should be able to push yourself if you really want it that bad.”

 

Smith recently graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. With no job yet, his focus is on winning the Games this year.

 

“For the next month, I’m going to give everything I got and train every single day, all day,” he says. “When it comes time for the Games, I’m going to do my best and see how things go.”