Inspirational Moss 'heals' in an eleven hour Ironman finish

Julie Moss is a pioneer in the sport of triathlon. Famous for her fierce determination in scrambling and crawling to the finish line at Kona in 1982, Moss went on to a successful professional career in the sport, always the trailblazer, always inspiring others.

So it was that she came to Kelloggs Nutra-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand with multiple objectives. After a DNF at Kona last year, Moss wanted to earn her place in Kona in 2018 to celebrate 40 years of the World Championship, she wanted to race with her son Mats Allen, and she wanted to help promote the global imitative Women For Tri - with the aim of increasing participation by women at triathlon events around the world.

Moss managed to achieve on all fronts, and do so superbly, finishing her own race in 11:1018, son Mats raced superbly in the IRONMAN 70.3 event, finishing fourth overall, and Women For Tri received a great boost thanks to her profile and energy for the sport she loves with a passion.

"It was a great day, and what made it great was the energy of the community and how well the race was set up," said Moss.

"It is a beautiful course, it is interesting and is never the same for any 200 metres, but with the support of IRONMAN New Zealand and the community of Taupo, how can you miss.

"My body was having a little trouble keeping up with all the energy, but it managed in the end and I am happy to have finished. My son Mats Allen had a great day in the 70.3, I thought he could go top ten in his age group, but he finished fourth overall, so it was kinda nice to know he was doing his thing and I was doing my thing."

Just a couple of hours after finishing, Moss was back at the finish line for the Women For Tri celebration hour between 8 and 9pm, with the crowd given glow sticks and some great music to enjoy while they celebrated every finisher home, with the women receiving their medals from Moss and Jocelyn McCauley - who earlier finished third in the Pro race.

"At 23 when I entered IRONMAN I felt like I was an equal to the men, and that is how the sport started. I think IRONMAN Corporation has carried that on, I think the women are treated so well with a lot of respect, but we need to get our numbers up. So, whether a sprint, Olympic, 70.3 or full IRONMAN we just want women to get a start and feel that amazing joy of crossing the finish line and pushing beyond what they thought they were capable of."

Moss is not finished yet though; this bundle of enthusiasm and energy is determined to return to Kona this October for the 40th year anniversary and to book end a remarkable relationship between herself and the sport.

"I have a box to tick in Kona, I earned my spot here, but I have an invitation to Kona already, so I can let my spot roll down to someone else here who will be very deserving. But I wanted to come here and earn it, now I have to go and tick that box in the 40th anniversary at Kona."

Moss made it clear though that outside of Kona, there is no place she would rather be, no event that she has a stronger love for, than Kelloggs Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand.

"IRONMAN New Zealand has been pivotal in my life. It is a place I have come for healing, in 2003 when my mother had died I came here and did the race and felt all the support she had given me through her life and I celebrated her on course. This year I am celebrating racing with my son. And I have raced in Auckland as well and raced with the great Erin Baker, who was sort of a mentor to me. I came back to New Zealand and spent six months training with Erin and Scott Molina, after that training block I had my best pro race, beating Paula Newby-Fraser.

"So yeah, New Zealand has been such a near and dear place to my heart, especially Taupo. The only place I wanted to heal from my DNF in Kona last year was here, I made the call before I left Kona last year, and here I am, on the road back to Kona with my heart in place, thanks to Taupo."

Kelloggs IRONMAN New Zealand hosted various Women For Tri activities, including a popular breakfast event earlier in the week, hosted by Moss and others including Sam Bradley (nee Warriner), encouraging more women into the sport, ending with the womens hour between 8 and 9pm at the finish line.

Both Moss and Warriner were announced as 2 of just 3 IRONMAN Brand Ambassadors for Women For Tri this week, with that news celebrated at Kelloggs IRONMAN New Zealand.

Warriner also competed in the event today, taking out the Womens 45-49 category in a stunning 9:57:34, earning her 10th place overall woman home in the 20th Anniversary of the event in Taupo.

For more on Moss and Warriner named Women For Tri Ambassadors, CLICK HERE

For more on Women For Tri, CLICK HERE

Full results, CLICK HERE

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Triathlon New Zealand