Ridgewood Business Owner Overcomes Setback, Competes in 2014 Ironman Championship

A Ridgewood business owner was among the 2,000 participants in the 2014 Ironman Championship in Hawaii last month, even though an accident right before the competition almost cost him his chance.

Brad Moss, who owns Get IN SHAPE for Women in Ridgewood, says what he expected before the competition and what actually happened were two very different things.

After competing in the 2013 Ironman Competition in Lake Placid and raising $39,000 for Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in one year, Moss earned his ticket to Kona for the Oct. 11 Ironman Championship.

But while riding his bike on Sept. 17, tragedy struck.

Moss was hit by a car and suffered a concussion, a sprained ankle, a herniated disk, sprained ligaments in his knee and a sprained joint in his shoulder. It was just a month shy of the Ironman Championship.

Still, Moss went ahead and flew to Kona, not knowing whether he’d be medically cleared or not to compete.

“To say I was not myself when I got there was an understatement,” Moss said.

But Moss’ determination conquered and he finished the competition’s 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26 mile run.

“It was the experience of a lifetime,” Moss said. “It was everything I’d hoped it would be.”

Moss has been an athlete for most of his life, playing football for Don Bosco and later Georgetown before beginning as Get IN SHAPE for Women’s head trainer in 2010. He quickly became the manager before buying out the previous owner.

“It’s been a great fit for me,” Moss said of the gym. “I’m very passionate about it.”

And part of Moss’ drive comes from his business.

“I try to lead the studio by example,” Moss said.

When asked if he has any plans to compete in any more Ironman competitions, Moss said, “Oh yeah, we’re already signed up (for the 2015 competition) in Lake Placid.”

But Moss wants to do things a bit differently next time around.

Moss says he wants to get back to Kona, get redemption and this time, get there with his body and not by fundraising.