FitLabPGH is a podcast about movement and movement opportunities in the Pittsburgh, PA area. Once a week we also highlight a FitLabPGH mover…someone who understands that movement is a lifestyle…not just an activity. The questions are lightly edited to allow for easy readability.
This Week: Ken Presutti
Are you a Pittsburgh native? If not, what brought you to the Pittsburgh area? Yes, raised in Springdale and now in the South Hills
What are your three favorite movement activities in the Pittsburgh area? We have so many great trails for running and biking, that I could take up almost all of my time doing those! If I’m going beyond that though, I’d add open water swimming up at Moraine State Park, yoga at any one of the awesome studios Pittsburgh has to offer, or water skiing/wake boarding down one of our rivers…
Describe your fantasy movement-focused vacation…cost is not an object…where do you go and what do you do? For right now, the realistic ones are traveling on the weekends and making mini-vacations with my family during triathlon race season. I love being able to spend time with my wife & son prior to racing. If I’m shooting for the true fantasy vacation though, it’s definitely a trip doing the hike to base camp at Everest. I’m not big on the cold, so I have no desire to actually go up the mountain, but an exhausting hike through Asia sounds right up my alley!
What is your go-to weekday breakfast? Your weekend breakfast? Coffee with a tablespoon of heavy whipping cream or MCT oil. On the weekends (or work from home days) it’s bacon and eggs. But, don’t be fooled, breakfast is not the most important meal of the day!
What is your favorite thing to eat in Pittsburgh? Note: it does not need to be healthy. Another almost impossible question to answer! I’m going to go with the Colossal Fish sandwich from Primanti Bros and/or Wings from Wings, Suds, and Spuds!
What is the most unusual and/or challenging movement activity you’ve done? Would you do it again? I’m a huge fan of the Race to Anyplace, which takes place every February. It’s an indoor bike race (on spin bikes), where you basically go as fast as you can, with no resistance, for 15 minutes. Then, you hop off and another team member gets on and does the same thing. Each team member rides 2 times, and there are 12 team members. As an indoor cycle instructor, I’d never, ever recommend anyone ride like that on a regular basis, but it’s awesome for this event and raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Over the past several years my team, the “Space Monkey Mafia” has racked up a lot of miles!
What movement activity/event are you looking forward to in the next year? I’m registered for Ironman Louisville, and am really looking forward to that. However, I’d also add the Pittsburgh Marathon as this year I’m working with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to coach their charity runners to complete the race.
Would you rather go scuba diving or skydiving? Sky diving for sure… It seems less claustrophobic!
What is your favorite recovery or self-care practice? Recovery starts with the activity itself. As a ChiRunning instructor I’m very focused on moving efficiently and with proper form to avoid injury in the first place. That said, self-care and recovery is still very important.
Prior to a few weeks ago, I would have said Yin Yoga, but since I’ve picked up a pair of Rapid Reboot compression boots it’s a close call. In fact, I think I’m definitely going with 30 minutes in the boots, and a good Cabernet.
What is the one place visitors to Pittsburgh “must” see? There is so much that it would be impossible to pick one place. The triathlete in me is going to assume I’m recommending this to another triathlete, and I’d say just get on the GAP trail downtown. You’ll go from the heart of the city, over to Southside, past UPMC Sports where the Steelers practice throughout Homestead, into McKeesport, and further if you keep going. Along the way, you’ll get a sense for how the city grew up on the river. How it became an industrial hub, and how we’ve changed over the years to become a great place to live, work, and move!
Contact info for Ken:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach.kenp/
