THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512080225
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Rebecca A. Myers
LENGTH: Long : 122 lines
He may not be a doctor, but Pete Kovalcik practices a kind of medicine.
The Portsmouth YMCA fitness director even thinks of some of the people he serves as ``patients.''
But unlike a medical doctor, Kovalcik usually writes the same prescription for good health over and over again: exercise.
``Everybody thinks that fitness means becoming an athlete, but it's really to make changes to improve one's health and quality of life,'' the 26-year-old said.
Through a prescription of diet and exercise, Kovalcik has helped some people reduce and sometimes eliminate their need for cholesterol and hypertension medications.
But with most, Kovalcik just helps to enhance their everyday lives.
``I was working with a gentleman who loves to play golf, but he really didn't have the fitness level to walk with his clubs around the golf course,'' said Kovalcik.
After adhering to Kovalcik's three-month exercise regiment, the man gave up his golf cart in favor of walking the 18 holes.
Kovalcik administers physical assessment tests and can design tailor-made, 12-week programs for people of all ages and fitness levels, from the athlete to the sedentary person.
He works with members as well as nonmembers for a nominal fee.
``I can set up a program for somebody who just wants to walk around the block or exercise in his or her home, so it doesn't have to be necessarily at the Y,'' said Kovalcik, who was hired in July.
``I try to emphasize that you don't have to use a fitness center to get a good workout.''
After two months of aquatic exercise, one man was able to cross his legs while sitting again. Kovalcik worked with another man on flexibility so he could do the gardening he wanted to do.
``Little things like that just make a big difference,'' he said.
It's Kovalcik's primary goal to get people so hooked on fitness that it eventually becomes second nature. The secret, he said, is consistency.
``For most people who are trying to get started on a program, as long as they can get through the first two to three months, then it really becomes habit-forming,'' he said.
``That's really when you start seeing the results. And I think once people start seeing a change, that's when they really stick to it.''
The son of a retired Navy surgeon, Kovalcik grew up in Portsmouth, graduating from Churchland High School in 1987. His love of soccer and weight training triggered his desire to work in a health-related profession.
``I just did a lot of reading on my own, trying to figure out the scientific basis for exercise - why your body developed and adapted and got larger and stronger,'' he said.
``I feel like I'm more of an educator. I really like to teach people about health and fitness and different wellness topics.''
Kovalcik holds an undergraduate degree in exercise and fitness and a master's in kinesiology - both from James Madison University.
When he's not helping others work out at the Y, Kovalcik - who considers himself at an above-average fitness level - enjoys hiking and backpacking with his wife of 18 months.
``It's a little hard to come back to the Y to work out after working here all day,'' he said.
``I know a lot of fitness directors who actually swap memberships at different places just so they can get a change in scenery.''
Name: Peter C. Kovalcik.
Nickname: Pete.
Neighborhood: Glensheallah.
Number of years in Portsmouth: 20.
Birthplace: Chelsea, Mass.
Birthdate: Nov. 5, 1969.
Occupation: Fitness center director, Portsmouth YMCA.
What job other than your own would you like? None. I am very happy with my position at the Portsmouth YMCA. It perfectly matches my education and previous experiences.
Marital Status: I am married to my precious wife, Josephine.
Children: No children yet.
Fondest childhood memory: Remembering my father teaching me how to catch waves at Virginia Beach when I was 7 years old. We used inflatable canvas rafts at the time.
First concert: U2 in 1983 at Chrysler Hall.
What song or book title best describes your life? That's a difficult question. I am still young and have a lot to look forward to in the future. One song or book title cannot summarize my life to this date; however, my life is not too unusual so maybe Van Morrison's ``Ordinary Life'' would apply.
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? A guided backpacking adventure with my wife in the Peruvian Andes.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Reinhold Messner, world-famous mountaineer. Why? To have the physical ability to make it to the top of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. I consider him to be the epitome of cardiovascular fitness.
Biggest accomplishment: Getting Creekside Fitness Center in Basye, Va., started while attending graduate school full time.
Most embarrassing moment: Diving into a swimming pool during one of JMU's Greek Week events and losing my swim trunks in front of 300 spectators.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To improve my ability to remember names.
Perfect way to spend the day: Hanging out with my beautiful wife and playing my Martin six-string guitar.
I can't resist: Turning up the volume on my car radio when a Wynton Marsalis (jazz trumpeter) tune is playing.
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: My wife's kitchen.
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: My parents' house when my sister and three brothers are in town.
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Increased crime in the public housing communities. Local media hype doesn't help the situation either. It gives Portsmouth a bad name.
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
To increase the speed limit to 45 miles per hour on Twin Pines Road.
To see the downtown High Street area become a center for art and music in Virginia.
To increase the number and quality of physical education classes in our public and private schools.
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? Living close to family and friends. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB