Godspeed**

Talk about running as a religion!

Sister Madonna Buder is a 77-year-old Roman Catholic nun from Spokane, Washington, who traded in her traditional nun's habit for dryfit running shorts and tanks. For those of you not up on your nuns, Sister Madonna is an awe-inspiring athlete and religious professional who uses running (and biking and swimming - she's a triathlete) as a means of reaching out to those in need, raising money for charity and achieving inner spiritual peace. I learned all about her Friday night watching Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. Yes, my husband and I are totally wild.

Anyhow, Sister Madonna started running when she was 49. According to her Wikipedia entry - everyone who's anyone has one, ya know - is well-known throughout the triathlon community, having completed over 200 triathlons including 13 Ironman Triathlons. May I remind you that these races start off with a 2.4-mile ocean swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride, then finishing up with a 26.2-mile marathon run? And may I also remind you that Sister Madonna has done all of this between the ages of 49 and 77? Race officials often have to create new age categories because she is the most senior of all athletes. Her trademark quote is "I train religiously."

At the 2005 Hawaii Ironman, at age 75, she became the oldest woman ever to complete the race, finishing one hour before the 17-hour midnight cut-off time. The next year, at age 76, she again became the oldest woman ever to complete the race, finishing with a time of 16:59:03. I was especially awestruck by this last race result because, as she told Bryant Gumbel, she had been ill during the races (stomach problems, I believe) and was concerned she wouldn't be able to finish under the 17-hour cutoff. So, she said, she told God that if she finished in time, that was a sign that her late nephew (whom she running the race for - she dedicates every race for someone in need) was happy and at peace.

People, she finished in 16:59:03.

Sister Buder (or Madge, as I've taken to calling her - only with the highest respect, though) was introduced to athletics in 1978 by a priest who told her running could be spiritually enlightening, that it could help unite the mind, body and soul.

When she began jogging, she quickly learned she had a knack for the sport and thought "how ridiculous would it be for a woman over 50 to run a marathon?" (her quote.) So she began doing just that. She qualified for the Boston Marathon and ran it to raise funds for finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

In 1984 she broken her hip - a double fracture - and was told that she might not be able to walk again. She underwent surgery and healed. In 2004, she broke her humerus and was told it would take 10 weeks to repair. The cast came off at six weeks.

Check out this story (courtesy of wikipedia): At the start of this year's Ironman Canada race, Sister Buder said to herself, "This is the day the Lord has made, so I am ready." She asked for courage and little wind, but the race did not go exactly as planned. She had started walking at about mile eight of the run because of nausea due to a mixture of foods and drinks offered along the course. Sister Buder was expecting to pick up a jacket at mile 13, but it was not there. She had to rummage around in the community box for a warm shirt to complete the race in. She continued on, but the race had to be completed before midnight in order for the results to be official. It was dark and she was by herself and she had two conflicting thoughts. She was tired and thought "you don't need to do this. You don't have anything else to prove." The other thought was "you started this and you have to finish for the other women in the future." She decided to hobble on.

At an aid station a race official told Sister Buder that if she kept walking at a 15 minute per mile pace, she would beat the deadline. She was convinced that she better start running. Allowing herself to throwup, she felt better and resumed running. Just after 11:30pm, well over 16 hours after she started, Sister Buder was heralded onto Lakeshore Drive by race announcer Steve King and cheering crowds. Steve King announced "Ladies and gentlemen, you are witnessing history in the making."

I'm amazed by this woman's dedication, her spirit and her impossibly positive attitude. Her use of goals as powerful incentives is a great tip for any of us to adopt, be it walking a 5K to raise money for a charity or treating yourself to a mani/pedi after a tough week of workouts. As she puts it, there is "No such thing as failure as long as one tries. The only failure is not to try." Love.

** My father has wittily suggested the alternate title of: "Running is a good HABIT to get into." He's very punny. Now you see where I get my sense of humor from.

Comments

Wow! She is amazing! I love that she does it for charity. What a way to live her values:)

On a side note, I looked you up on Wiki and there was no love! But one of the links suggested was called "Boys are stupid, throw rocks at them." Have something to tell us? ;)

I saw that same profile (yeah, we're pretty wild and crazy, too! I stayed up until 9:30 on Friday!!!!) ans was amazed by her.
I know for a fact that I'm not a good distance runner, but I'm starting a new lifting program, and I'll be thinking of her as my inspiration. I'm also going for my reformer pilates teacher certification next weekend. Zoikes!!!

Ha! That's too funny, Charlotte - I investigated further (I do have a tee-shirt made by that same brand that says "Drama Queen" but looks like the Dairy Queen logo) and learned that the designer's name is Todd Goldman. I also found this quote from a 10-yr-old girls who likes the "Boys are stupid..." shirt: "I want to make boys feel bad because it's fun."

Alyssa - keep us posted on your certification, OK? Good luck!!

All I can say is WOW!!! Sister Madonna ROCKS!! The next time I am not feeling like going for a run, I'm going to pull up her picture for inspiration!

(still saying "WOW!".....)

She is inspiring! Wow!

I feel so guilty for being too lazy to wake up in time for my workout this morning

Jeez Louise! She is amazing. I LOVE that she says she trains Religiously! But seriously, physical activity does make me feel connected to the universe and spiritual.

She did the Ironman at 75. Just thinking about the Ironman makes me faint. My mom would say to this, "See what the good Lord can help you do if you just believe. Now, go to church."...lol...