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. Click FitLabPGH Features for more info if you want to be featured/know someone who should be featured.
This Week: Dan Minnicks
Are you a Pittsburgh native? If not, what brought you to the Pittsburgh area? Yes
What are your three favorite movement activities in the Pittsburgh area? Being a former hockey player, I’m always going to be partial to finding an open slab of ice and playing hockey even though I don’t get to do it as much as I’d like. I really enjoy being in a gym setting and experimenting and trying things that are new to me as I’m always researching new ways to better serve my clients. I treat myself as a Guinea pig in that regard. I enjoy hiking as well and there’s plenty of that around the area.
Describe your fantasy movement-focused vacation…cost is not an object…where do you go and what do you do? I’m not sure on a specific location at the moment but I’ve always been enticed by those tropical hikes where there’s the massive waterfalls or something majestic in the middle of the woods that isn’t visible by just pulling over on the side of the road. The few hikes that I’ve done around Utah have really opened my eyes to just how much beauty in nature there is if you’re just willing to go out and earn it.
What is your go-to weekday breakfast? Your weekend breakfast? During the week: Steel cut oats with a scoop of protein powder, chia seeds, berries, and unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Weekend: I’m a creature of habit and terribly picky so it’s usually the same, but sometimes I’ll go out somewhere for breakfast. If I do, French toast and bacon is my breakfast delicacy.
What is your favorite thing to eat in Pittsburgh? Note: it does not need to be healthy. If you like ribs, Mario’s in the Southside has the best ones around.
What is the most unusual and/or challenging movement activity you’ve done? Would you do it again? Hiking to the top of Mount Olympus in Salt Lake City. Yes, I definitely would do it again. The views were amazing and absolutely worth it.
What movement activity/event are you looking forward to in the next year? I’ll be hiking at Zion in early February and that’s one that’s been on my bucket list. After that I’m considering doing some kind of endurance event in the fall but I’m not sure yet.
Would you rather go scuba diving or skydiving? Scuba diving for sure! Although, sky diving would be one of those “conquer your fears” things that I might do one day.
What is your favorite recovery or self-care practice? Sleep is certainly number one as it seems to be very underutilized these days but in addition to that I recommend finding a good ART practitioner. It’s been a game changer for me and my clients as well.
What is the one place visitors to Pittsburgh “must” see? There’s so much to see with all of the museums, the history and the sports but I’m a simple pleasures guy so I’ll usually tell people to check out the view from Mt. Washington.
Contact info for Dan Minnicks:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danminnicks/
Instagram (Umberger Performance): https://www.instagram.com/umberger_performance/
Instagram (Umberger Fitness): https://www.instagram.com/umberger_fitness/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanMinnicks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Minnicks-Training-Systems-2051338688290948/
