Jeremy Meredith, 26, earned first place in the CrossFit Western Canada Regionals last year. He plans to make it two in a row this weekend.

Image Credit: Contributed

A young Vernon man will be trying to win—for the second time—top spot in the CrossFit Regionals this weekend in Richmond.

Jeremy Meredith, 26, quickly rose to the top after first getting into CrossFit in 2007, then winning second place in the 2011 Canada West Regional. Twice he's made it to the World CrossFit games, which awards $1 million to the "fittest man on earth."

Meredith, who owns and operates CrossFit Vernon, faces competition from his rival, 23-year-old Lucas Parker, known as "the Bearded Wonder." Parker came second to Meredith in last year's regional competition, and in a recent CTV interview, he announced, "I'm coming for you Jeremy."

In a Q&A with InfoTel News, Meredith says he's ready to take gold at regionals, and best his score at the Worlds.

 
Charlotte Helston
What was it like to win the Western Canada Regional Championships last year?

Jeremy Meredith
(It) was incredible. I had prepared my best and I knew I had a good chance to return to the CrossFit Games again but it’s still always a bit of a surprise to win.

CH
How were you able to improve your fitness since then?

Jeremy Meredith
I was definitely in the best shape of my life last year when I won my regional. This year I’ve improved on a lot of areas of my game and I’m definitely ready to showcase that.
 
CH
How do you mentally prepare for a competition?

Jeremy Meredith
Before competitions I just try to stay calm and keep my stress levels down. CrossFit has a surprisingly large mental component and if you haven’t get every aspect of your game dialed in you will falter.

CH 
How many hours do you work out in a day?

Jeremy Meredith
Some days I’ll spend as many as 5 hours training.

CH
Do you have a ritual you do before competitions?

Jeremy Meredith
My pre-game ritual is the same every time. I put my headphones in and listen to something calming (I don’t like to get too excited before events). I do about 10 minutes on the bike then do some stretching and foam rolling then get right into a warm-up specific to the event I’m going to be doing.

CH
What's on your mind when you're lifting weights?

Jeremy Meredith
When I’m practicing I think about all the little technical cues any coach would tell their athlete. “Hips down, knees back” Things like that. When it’s game day I just shut my brain off and let the work I’ve put in all year take over. Everything just becomes an afterthought.

CH 
Who will be there watching you compete this weekend?

Jeremy Meredith
We have a pretty large constituency of fans from the gym heading down. About 30 people coming from CrossFit Vernon alone.

CH 
What's the weirdest thing you've ever lifted?

Jeremy Meredith
There is a giant rock at the dog park that I’ve always wanted to try lifting but I’m too shy... I have a log in my back yard and some days I’ll just go back there and swing a dull axe at it for 20 minutes or so. It’s a great workout and a better stress reliever.

CH 
What kind of diet are you on?

Jeremy Meredith
It would probably surprise a lot of people the foods I eat. I used to be very strict about the foods I was eating but lately it’s mostly about calories. With the massive energy expenditure caused from my training, ‘clean’ foods don’t always cut it. Cheeseburgers and cookies are a staple in my diet. If there is one thing I do try and focus on, it’s having protein at every meal.

CH 
In an interview with CTV, Lukas Parker said he was coming for you. How do you feel about that?

Jeremy Meredith
I’ve always known Lucas to be quite the character. We traveled to the CrossFit Games together the past 2 years in a row and have a pretty friendly relationship. I think he’s just trying to stir things up.

CH 
How many people will you be competing against?

Jeremy Meredith
38 individual males were selected from 1280 to compete at the Canada West Regional this year.

CH 
After a competition, do you let your workout routine mellow out for a while?

Jeremy Meredith
The past two years I won the opportunity to move on to the CrossFit Games after Regionals so my training didn’t really taper off much. It was right back in the gym with a new goal in mind. This year I will have even less time between Regionals and The Games so if I make it again, I will likely be back in the gym on Tuesday. If not, I might rest until Wednesday.

CH
How badly do you want to win?

Jeremy Meredith
It’s all I think about.

CH 
What's your biggest personal challenge?

Jeremy Meredith
My biggest personal challenge is managing the additional stresses of life. The other athletes I’m competing against live the life of a professional. They have big name sponsors and eat, sleep, and breath CrossFit. I’ve got family, friends, and most importantly a thriving business that needs attention. I train when I have time but sometimes I have to make the time.

CH 
What motivates you to work out?

Jeremy Meredith
Progress. The greatest part of CrossFit is that instant gratification when you accomplish something. Seeing a number on a scale pales in comparison to pulling a 500lb deadlift for the first time in your life.

CH 
Why CrossFit rather than another type of sport?  

Jeremy Meredith
CrossFit is a sport where you get what you put in. If you work your butt off and train hard, eat right, sleep lots, don’t drink alcohol you can be very successful in this sport. It’s all about who wants it most.

CH
Why did you open CrossFit Vernon?

Jeremy Meredith
I opened CrossFit Vernon to share my passion for fitness and strength training with people. CrossFit has had an amazing effect on my life and I want anybody to be able to experience that.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call (250)309-5230.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013