Longmont police patrol Cmdr. Dave Moore wanted to do a happy dance in his weekly command staff meeting Tuesday morning, but he controlled his giddiness in front of his colleagues.

Moore was grateful to learn that he was the last of 10 Ironman Boulder 2017 entrants chosen at random to compete in the Oct. 14 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii — a qualification-only race for a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.

“I figured I’d have to be doing Ironmans until I was 80 just to qualify,” Moore, 46, said. “When only three people compete in your age group, you’ve got a good chance of making it in.”

He said his wife registered him earlier this year before he knew there would be a drawing, but thought it’d be neat to have a shot at the elite race. He said he believed on Monday the chance was already over and that when his colleagues walked in the conference room, it was for a presentation.

“And then when I turned the other way and I saw Dave walking in the room, that’s when I kind of realized what it’s about,” Moore said.

Ironman Boulder race director Dave Christen draped a yellow and orange lei over Moore’s neck and blue uniform, congratulating him and offering his support.

“I think we’ll get everyone together, the 10 people that won, and connect all of you guys so you have a group to go to Kona with,” Christen said in the hallway outside the conference room.

A track and long-distance runner previously, Moore went on to compete in his first triathlon in 2008 with a group of mainly law enforcement officers charged with raising money for then-detective Devi Suess. Moore and his wife, Wende, started Team Devi to raise money for her medical bills as she was battling Stage 4 uterine cancer, which she survived.

“Then I just got super engrossed in triathlons; they’re just very addictive,” he said. “And one year, I did a half Ironman and thought, ‘Well, why can’t I do a full one?’ So I went on and did a full one that year and that was my first full Ironman.”

The 2010 race in North Carolina was followed by the inaugural 2014 Boulder race, where he only finished three-fourths because temperature hovering just below 100 degrees seriously dehydrated him. He then returned to North Carolina in 2014, where he set a personal record of 12 hours and 37 minutes.

“That’s why I’m going back to Boulder, because I didn’t finish it last time and it didn’t want to leave it unfinished,” he said. “I wanted to go and complete it.”

Moore said he recently started training for the 2017 Boulder Ironman, starting with sprint-triathlon-level distances, such as a 3.1-mile run, 15-mile bike and 750-yard swim. He said the distances will build from there for the next six months until the June 11 date.

“The training is tough and it takes a lot of mental discipline to stick to the training because you’re doing most of it on your own,” he said. “But when you get to the actual race, there’s not really a feeling like it to cross the line and have accomplished that.”

Swimming will be Moore’s greatest challenge — especially in the uncharted waters in the Pacific Ocean — so he’ll be working on strengthening his kicks leading up to the June and October races.

“I’m going to wear floaties if I have to; one way or another, I’m going to do it,” he said.

Wende, his wife, said she had been monitoring the Ironman Boulder Facebook page for announcements on winners. She said she’s excited to support him in this dream.

“He texted me and I thought he was kidding,” she said. “Things like that just don’t happen to us.”

She said their three sons — ages 9, almost 11 and 13 — cheer him on with cowbells at every race. She said he’s dedicated to the intense training, but always makes time for family.

Moore said he is extremely grateful for Christen and two representatives from 303 Cycling — Dana Willett and Jen Findley — who presented the bucket-list opportunity.

In mid-December, Boulder dentist and Longmont resident Tom Bogan was awarded the first slot. The other eight winners are from Boulder; Thornton; Fremont, Calif.; Hill Air Force Base and Salt Lake City,.

Amelia Arvesen: 303-684-5212, arvesena@times-call.com or twitter.com/ameliaarvesen