Written by: TFVstaff • November 1, 2024• Featured In Our Schools

Inspiring Individuals: Driven to Inspire

by Judy Sanchez

There are few things, if any, more physically taxing than completing an Ironman®. The 140.6-mile race consists of 2.4 miles of swimming in open water, a 112-mile bike ride and a marathon run of 26.2 miles. For Mrs. Aileen Bogert, a 5th grade teacher at Palmetto Elementary, training for this grueling race is how she spends her free time.

Bogert, who began running at 35, received a bike from her husband on her 40th birthday. The gift turned into a passion for her, and it wasn’t long before she was changing her training from running marathons to preparing for triathlons.

“It was one day in August when I was running around the neighborhood and just melting. A pack of cyclists passed by, and the breeze that hit me made me think that looked a lot more fun. They didn’t look nearly as sweaty as I was,” Bogert said.

And so the seed was planted.

Her first foray into the triathlon world was a sprint triathlon that was comprised of a 0.5-mile swim, a 12.4-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run.

“My first triathlon my time was horrible. I was the last one out of the water. But I loved it,” she said.

She made the jump to the Olympic distance triathlons and eventually was competing in half-Ironman races. But with three young daughters and a full-time job, even that training schedule was proving to be difficult.

But once her girls were a little older, it was time for her to leap into the Ironman training program.

Bogert did her first Ironman in Panama City Beach.

“Crossing that Ironman finish line was such a great feeling. It is like nothing you will ever experience. It’s a culmination of all your hard work, persevering through the self-doubt; and it’s so empowering.”

As delighted as she was after that first Ironman, it wasn’t until 2023 when she had the highlight of her racing career. At a strenuous and hilly course in Chattanooga, Aileen placed in the Top 10 and had a PR (personal record) time. Her time of 13:39:38 was good enough to qualify for the World Championships in Nice, France, in 2024.

“I knew I had done the best I had ever done,” Bogert said of the Chattanooga Ironman. “I was so excited. And people tell me that I’m supposed to get slower as I get older, but I just keep getting faster and faster.”

The road to Nice was filled with 5 a.m. wake-up calls to get in swims, bikes and runs before she started her school day at 8:30 a.m. Her weekends were packed with six-hour bike training sessions as well.

The World Championships proved to be extremely difficult, with a brutal swim that would have forced almost anyone else into the medical boat. In the first 100 meters of the swim, Bogert was kicked in the chest. She gasped and swallowed water and then had people swimming over her, which caused her to sink down and swallow more water. It sent her into a spiral, and she had a panic attack. But Bogert kept swimming, and after 2 hours and 14 minutes, she emerged from the water and began the second part of the race, a bike course that has over 2400 meters of elevation, including climbs into the steep Alps. Bogert had a crash 40 miles into the cycle portion of the race.

Aileen Bogert with Ironman® Hall of Famer, Mark Allen.

“I was descending and there was a hairpin turn and I was braking so hard, but a gust of wind pushed the back of my bike,” Bogert said. I realized there was no railing on the turn and if I missed the turn properly, I’d be going over the edge, so I skidded into the mountain instead. I got cuts and bruises but got back up.”

She mounted her bike and kept pushing, even though she knew the remaining 85 miles would be downhill and she wanted to be cautious. Unfortunately, when she completed the bike with a time of 8:51:19, she had missed the cutoff time to begin the run. Her race ended at that time.

“I knew it was going to be close because of the swim,” Bogert said. “But I didn’t know how close I was to the cutoff time, so I just kept pushing. I wasn’t willing to stop. I’m always going to finish.”

As frustrating as that was, Bogert is as determined as ever.

“I’m motivated by telling myself every time I get to the start line, I’m going to be better than I was the last time. I’ve had success, and I learn something from every race.”

Her incredible dedication has been such an inspiration for her students.

“I tell my students one test doesn’t define you. Prepare as best you can. You’re not always going to get that “A”, but if you prepared and gave it your all and got a “C”, that’s okay. Next time it won’t be a “C” because you will work on your weaknesses. Set goals and work towards them.”

Her enthusiasm towards working hard doesn’t just apply to the classroom. She is the teacher sponsor of a national program called “Girls On the Run.” This group consists of 13 girls that meet twice a week. In the meetings, there are lessons to build confidence and strategies taught to overcome obstacles. They also exercise together.

She also has a contingent of students who compete in youth triathlons. And as they took their spot along the pool deck at 6:55 a.m. on a Sunday morning, she was there on the sidelines cheering them on.

While she loved watching them compete, she is not ready to be a spectator.

“I’m not done,” Bogert beamed. “I have goals, and I will get to another championship and finish the race.”

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Last modified: November 1, 2024