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Meet Katie Prendergast of KPxFitness

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Prendergast.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up playing sports and living an active lifestyle in the suburbs of Cleveland and Akron, OH. During college, though, a steady diet of pizza and beer caused me to gain a lot of weight while also becoming more sedentary. After college, I resolved to regain my athleticism, and fell in love with weightlifting and training for performance. I initially educated myself on exercise and nutrition sciences to get better training results for myself, but along the way, I realized I wanted to help other people build the strength and confidence I had gained from weightlifting.

So, I moved to Colorado to pursue a career in strength coaching. (I won’t lie, the mountains were a big draw, too!)

I began my career in a “box” style gym but didn’t appreciate that our training clients are often treated like numbers on the bottom line, instead of people with personal struggles and real lives outside the gym.

I left the box gym and founded KPxFitness on the premise that I could deliver a better training experience. The core principle that drives how I craft programs for my clients is that everything in life is easier when you’re strong – from mountain adventures to carrying all your groceries in one trip. Strength training is the foundation of a long and healthy life. Strength forms the basis of everything client program I create, with the ultimate goal of enhancing your life outside of the gym.

Since KPxFitness operates out of a small, locally-owned personal training studio, I have the flexibility to work with people who may not have had the best experiences training in busy box gyms. My coaching takes into account the whole picture – your schedule, your current abilities, your ultimate goals, how you fuel your body through the foods you eat, and your sustainable lifestyle changes that will support your fitness.

I spend most of my time in the gym, working with people who want to get strong for mountain adventures like skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, or hiking their first 14’er. When I’m not working with clients, I’m writing about health and fitness for major online publications like T-Nation and Healthy Living Heavy Lifting. And I’m always looking to get outside and explore with my trusty sidekick – a 2-year old Golden Retriever/Border Collie mix named Gunner.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Founding a business is never easy. I have a background in writing and personal training, not running a business. So, I’ve had to learn on-the-fly how to build a brand, market my services, and run the day-to-day aspects of my business. Since I believe in the power of coaching when you’re trying to achieve a goal, I hired a business coach to help get me started. Surrounding myself with a great team of mentors and colleagues has been pivotal.

The biggest challenge was finding the right space to bring my training clients, and I think I’ve succeeded with Push Gym, which is locally owned and full of great trainers and athletes. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming to people of all fitness levels, which is essential whether someone is just starting their fitness journey or looking to level up their active lifestyle.

I also provide remote coaching for people who do not live in Denver. Building a website and learning online marketing was a new challenge, too. But with the help of my business coach, I was able to get the online training side of my business up and running to expand my reach and help people outside of the Denver area improve their lives through fitness. Anyone interested in learning about my remote training and nutrition program options can visit my website for all the details.

KPxFitness – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
KPxFitness stands for “keep pushing your fitness” and is founded on the belief that everything in life is easier when you’re strong. Strength training is the cornerstone of a healthy life, and being physically strong leads to greater mental strength, confidence, and the ability to handle anything life throws your way.

On the surface, I’m a personal trainer and strength coach. I work with clients who want to lose weight and build strength. But when you sign up for personal training with KPxFitness, you get so much more – weight loss helps people feel comfortable in their bodies and greater strength leads to self-confidence.

Other personal trainers count your reps and make you sweat, but I help my clients forget about the number on the scale or how many pounds they can deadlift. It’s all about improving their lives outside the gym.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
It’s not one, single moment that stands out. Every time I get a message from a client sharing how amazing they feel because of our training – that’s what reminds me why I do what I do.

LS: “Hi, Katie! I just wanted to add that your program has helped me to get into the best shape of my life; I recognize how far I’ve come and also how far I still would like to go. I have muscles that I’ve never had before!! Thank you!!!”

DB: “Hi! I just wanted to share this with you. I came home from work today, wanted to throw on a pair [of] jeans and head out to walk the dog. The only clean jeans I had [were] ones I have not been wearing because I could not fit my fat butt into them. Today, BOOM! They fit. Thanks for your help!”

AK: “This is gonna be cheesy, but I think [KPxFitness group training] is probably one of the best things I’ve ever done, so thanks :)”

KL: “Just being able to walk in [to the gym] and not be afraid of all the weights is huge for me. Thanks so much for the plan and the push!”

KK: “My physical therapist just told me that I’m in the best shape in the 11 years I’ve been seeing him.”

Messages like these are the best feedback that I’m doing something important and profound with KPxFitness.

Pricing:

  • Training packages are customized to suit each individual’s fitness goal and budget, but range from $150/mo to $500/mo

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Jumping picture: Crossfit Cherry Creek
Myself with 3 clients: Platinum Productions

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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