She first became known during the 1982 Ironman Triathlon, in which she competed as part of her research for her exercise physiology thesis.

[1] Nevertheless, she found herself with a comfortable lead, but approximately two miles before the finish line, she became severely dehydrated.

She staggered and crawled towards the end of the course, only to be passed moments before the finish line by competitor Kathleen McCartney.

[2] The dramatic race between Julie Moss and Kathleen McCartney in the 1982 Ironman Triathlon significantly heightened the visibility and popularity of the sport, contributing to its inclusion as an Olympic event in 2000, and remains a poignant moment in triathlon history.

[3] The October 8, 2009 episode of The Score by Diana Nyad describes Moss's Ironman race.