Written and Photographed by Kristin Dvorak
It’s not often that a Madison native lands a gig sitting poolside in Los Angeles at The Bachelor Mansion. So, when local trainer Peter Kraus was cast on Season 13 of “The Bachelorette,” it was the talk of the town.
When Kraus exited the limo during the first episode to meet The Bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, much of Madison was among the 5.7 million viewers. From then on, fans eagerly watched week-to-week to see if Kraus would receive a rose. Sure enough, just like he effortlessly captured fans’ hearts, Kraus made it all the way to the final two bachelors, ultimately leaving in a tearful goodbye because he couldn’t promise Lindsay a proposal.
Fast-forward two years and where has the heartthrob landed? Right back where it all began, in his hometown of Madison. “I wanted to stay grounded after the show and it wasn’t a hard decision to come back; I just went back to my normal life,” Kraus says. Prior to being cast on “The Bachelorette,” Kraus offered in-home personal training services in Chicago, Los Angeles and then Madison. It only made sense to eventually open his own gym, Peter Kraus Fitness in Middleton.
PK Fit offers classes led by specific trainers (including Kraus). Class sizes are relatively small, which, according to Andrea Newman, who joined the day the gym opened, is the best part because the trainers make an effort to learn members’ names and give advice to those who might need additional guidance. “Each class is designed to be modified for any level of experience, from beginner to advanced,” Kraus adds.
Having watched every season of “The Bachelorette,” mom of two Lisa Bengry knew she had to check out Peter Kraus Fitness as well. To her surprise, Kraus is at the gym nearly every day and is very involved in the daily operations. Bonus? He brings his furry canine sidekick, Daisy, along most days.
“We also offer 24-hour access to the main gym, in addition to any number of classes,” Kraus adds. Members can mix and match classes with a full gym membership or simply choose one or the other. Want to give the gym a test run or just pop in to get a sweat on with the former model? Peter Kraus Fitness offers day and week passes for out of town visitors and those who want to try it out before committing to a full membership. Visit peterkrausfitness.com for more information.