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Going The Distance
THOMAS MOORE
Mistie Desper
“Just get out there and
do something, anything
active, away from the
TV, the stress, and do
something that you
enjoy,” said 71-year-old
athlete Thomas Moore.
Born and raised in Edinburg, Mississippi,
Thomas always had an interest in running. His
school did not have a track to run on at the time,
but that never stopped him from running or
being active. In 1983, four years before moving
to Brandon, he saw a brochure for the Heart of
Dixie triathlon in Philadelphia. At age 33, he
competed for the first time and was hooked.
Triathlons are an endurance multi-sport race
consisting of swimming, cycling, and running
of specified distances.
He said, “I always just needed an outlet and
never wanted to just sit. My drive comes from
just the sport itself and looking forward to doing
the races and the training involved in it all.”
Becoming a widower in 2008, Thomas
admitted, “I remember running to just ease my
mind, to help a stressful situation. Long runs
definitely helped with grief. It was almost a form
of therapy.” Thomas began to pour himself into
his training.
Competing in eight to twelve races each
year, training becomes nonstop–simply a way of
life. He admitted, “You cannot take too much of
a rest or you will lose your mobility, especially as
you age.” His training consists of simply
swimming, running, walking, and hiking.
Thomas admits that he has really never used a
trainer, he just gets out there.
Reminiscing about his multitude of event
memories, he recalled his most challenging race
was the Escape from Alcatraz in 2019. “The
water was 55 degrees with a strong current.
If you weren’t careful, the current would pull
you under the Golden Gate Bridge. I remember
stopping for a moment mid-swim to look back
at the island and just take in that moment.”
Alcatraz is a 22-acre island in the San
Francisco Bay area. A federal prison was on the
island that housed some of the most infamous
and notorious criminals in history. The strong
currents and cold water made escaping the prison
nearly impossible. Thomas had successfully swam
the “impossible.”
The farthest he has traveled for a race was
over 7,000 miles to Beijing, China. In 2011,
Thomas competed in the ITU World Championship
Grand Final. This race was Olympic
distance consisting of a 1.5km swim, 40km bike
ride, and a 10km run. Not only did Thomas
complete the rigorous race in the cold and rain,
but he also placed 16th in the entire world in his
age group.
Thomas’s most rewarding race so far was
the Ironman World Championship in Utah in
2020. He said, “Part of the biking was through
the mountains at almost a 9% grade. The last
mile was totally uphill.” After this year’s
Ironman, he and a few friends hiked many
national parks throughout the area. Utah is
known for its breathtaking scenery–from its
snowy mountains in the north to its iconic red
desert landscapes scattered through the south.
This race is dear to his heart.
Thomas plans on competing in the Ironman
70.3 in 2022 in Chattanooga, Tenn. “If I win
my age group, I would be able to compete in the
championship in Utah again. I have to be
careful because those young 69- and 70-yearolds
will be in my flight this time,” he joked.
He said, “I never try to convince anyone to
do a triathlon because it can be dangerous. I have
had my share of bike wrecks. I have broken my
collarbone, suffered a hip injury, and had a tooth
knocked out. I tell people to just walk. Get out
and go hike. You don’t need anything special or a
gym. Just use your neighborhood, just stay active.”
In the off season, you can find Thomas
trail-walking and mountain biking at The Quarry.
He added, “Its so nice to see more and more
people there enjoying nature and staying active.”
Thomas’s motivation comes from doing
something he is truly passionate about along
with the desire to stay in “pretty good condition.”
He admits, “I watch what I eat, and I just stay
active. This has allowed me to stay healthy and
not need any medications at all. I do not have to
take anything.”
Slowing down with age, he admits things
get harder and harder. Thomas encourages
everyone of any age to just stay active and do
something you love and enjoy.
There is great joy found in getting outdoors in
nature and getting the stresses of the world out.
Hometown MADISON • 35