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If worse comes to worse, Cynthia Fligel will drag herself across the
finish line.
For the past year and a half, 50-year-old Fligel has been training
almost daily preparing to tackle the 140-mile "Ironman" triathlon in
Kansas City on Saturday.
At this point, nothing will keep her from finishing.
If prior success is any indication, Fligel has little to worry about.
She finished first in her age division at a half Ironman triathlon in
June.
"Once you get up on that podium, you never want to get down," Fligel
said. "Crossing that finish line is such a rush. It's an addiction."
Helping her quench her dependence is Jane Kupkowski, a personal trainer
at the Recreation Center. Kupkowski developed a sports-specific program
for Fligel that focuses on building endurance while preventing injury.
Fligel and Kupkowski had an immediate connection. Both had previous
marathon experience. Kupkowski wouldn't sugarcoat things for Fligel, who
said previous trainers were weary about her age.
"They would treat me like a little old lady saying, 'Oh, you can't do
that,'" Fligel said. "But Jane doesn't put limitations on me because I'm
50. I am in better shape now then when I was 20."
Kupowski said she focuses on physical ability, not age. If someone has
past injuries or health problems, she treads lightly with the training.
Otherwise, it is her job to push people to their limits.
And that is just what she did to Fligel. In order for her to swim 2.4
miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles all in one day, they??? had to
train Fligel's muscles to "remember" what they practiced and be able to
go into autopilot during the strenuous race.
Because there is no time to stretch and warm up different muscle groups
before transitioning from event to event, Fligel and Kupkowski worked on
training multiple muscle groups at one time.
While doing lunges and working her legs, Fligel held a 25-pound weight
above her head. The idea was to simulate the stress her muscles would
undergo while hunched over a bike for hours.
As Fligel climbed into the leg press, or what she likes to call the
"garlic masher," Kupkowski explained her unique approach to weight
lifting.
While most people pile on all the weight they can handle, Kupkowski
prefers Fligel to focus on the intensity of work versus quantity of
weight. By doing up to 90 reps at a time with lower weight, lean muscle
mass is increased, which is better suited to receive oxygen.
"Basically, we are overloading her muscles now in order for her to
withstand fatigue during the race." Kupkowski said.
While she has focused on her intense training and rigid diet for nearly
two years, Fligel said the biggest challenge is preparing mentally.
"I'd say it is about 20 percent physical and 80 percent mental," Fligel
said. "You have to have a positive mindset, and you have to know that
it's going to hurt. But you have to know how to recognize the good pains
and the bad pains and work with them to push yourself further."
Helping propel her across the finish line are her friends, her daughter,
Chiara Calvetti, a SIUC alumni and former collegiate softball player,
and the belief that she will be the elite of the elite.
Although more and more people compete each year, less than one percent
of Americans finish a marathon, and the way Fligel figures it, even
fewer people complete a triathlon.
"Well, I have 17 hours to complete the race," Fligel said. "I plan to do
it faster, but even if I don't place, I am already elite."
Fligel, who plays piano at Mugsy McGuire's part time on top of selling
Mary Kay products and working for Alexien Consultants, realizes that
most people do not consider her lifestyle a fun one. But for her, it is
completely gratifying, even if it gets a little lonely sometimes.
"Any sport is a sacrifice," Fligel said. "But I've been blessed with
being completely goal oriented. People do race for different reasons.
For me, it's because it is there.
"But it can be lonely. It is a sport of solitude, but you find out how
tough you are. You find your strengths. I am going to complete this
without a doubt. I am not just going for the T-shirt, I want the podium!"
Daily Egyptian 
