31 Dec 2024 Five-Oh-Ones to Watch 2025: Erika Setzler
By KD Reep
You have to be pretty fast to catch up with Erika Setzler, and that’s not just in running. Not quite 30, she has accomplished so much in her young life that she is helping others to do the same.
A certified personal trainer at Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center, Setzler works with central Arkansans of all ages to reach their potential.
“I went to the University of Central Arkansas doing the exercise science program then graduated in 2014,” she said. “I didn’t really have an idea what I wanted to do, but I grew up in sports, so I knew I wanted something in that realm. When a personal training position opened at Conway Regional, Mallory Lefler, who is the fitness manager, contacted me and asked if I wanted to interview. I got the job and started within the next couple of weeks and immediately fell in love with it.”
That was nine years ago, and Setzler continues to bring her decades of experience as a runner and triathlete to the central Arkansans who train with her.
“The majority of what I do at the fitness center is either one-on-one or group training,” she said.
“I’ve got roughly 20 clients I train multiple days a week, and then I’m also an instructor for a class I call The Grind, which is three days a week. It’s a high-intensity interval training approach that is very functional. We do anything and everything, and I can make it as easy or difficult as I want — and I do. Sometimes my clients say, ‘Man, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.’ But I really love it.”
A self-described running nerd, Setzler brings to her profession decades of experience in track and field and as a triathlete. A native of Conway, she earned her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with an emphasis on exercise science, as well as her master’s degree in health science from UCA while being a member of the college’s track and field team. In 2019, she qualified for the USA Triathlon National Championships, placing in the top 18 in her age group and qualifying for the world competition. She went on to compete in the amateur category of that competition, which was held in Australia, placing seventh as an American and 23rd overall for her age group.
Today, Setzler is focusing on helping those she trains to find health and, she hopes, a passion for physical fitness. “I really want to expand the youth sports performance offerings at the fitness center,” she said. “The Youth Fitness Camp is in the summer, and we also offer a youth sports camp and the kids’ triathlon.
“I have always been very passionate about exercise,” she said. “I know being active is key to sustaining life. I had a 90-year-old client, and it’s fun to see the growth and how important exercise is just for overall health.”
