They call her the “Iron Nun”: Sister Madonna Buder, an 80-year-old Roman Catholic nun who lives in Spokane, Wash., has competed in hundreds of triathlons since taking up running in her 40s, including nearly 20 appearances at the Ironman Canada. Sister Buder, whose first book, The Grace to Race, was published last month, spoke to the Globe about how to stay motivated after 350 races.
Do you train religiously?
I don’t train. I just don’t. Now, I’m lucky to put one foot in front of the other and save the energy for the event.
How many triathlons have you competed in?
It must be up to 350 by now. It’s become family. These triathletes are just so enjoyable. So many of them have become friends. I stay at their houses when I’m in a different area. And now that I’ve turned 80, I’ve realized that I need their youth to keep me going.
Do you have a mantra when you compete?
I do. I've learned that if I keep my head busy my body's much better off because it's being ignored. My mantra is, ‘Bless the Lord, praise His holy name, bless the Lord, praise His holy name, bless the Lord, praise His holy name.’ That establishes a good rhythm.
You started running when you were 48 on the advice of priest?
Yes, that’s what started this all off. I thought it was stupid. I could not see just getting out there running for no good reason. I was totally unaware of the running boom. After doing my first eight-mile race, I figured I never wanted to put my body through that again. But I kept going. One season I ran 20 marathons. Then triathlons came along and that was much better than running.
Have you suffered many injuries?
I’m like a China doll. I’ve been chipped away every so often. The major injury I suffered was a broken hip. The doctor did not think that I would be able to walk again.
How do you stay motivated?
I have to have a reason to do it. One year, [Ironman world champion] Mark Allen’s father was doing the Hawaii Ironman, and I thought, ‘That’s it! Wouldn’t it be fun to beat Mark Allen’s father?’ I did not know where he was on the course, I just had to keep going. I later found out he didn’t complete the swim in time.
What keeps you going now?
Now it’s an age thing, trying to perpetuate the age group for people so that they can see that it’s possible.
Do you see older people now competing in triathlons?
Now it’s amazing how many people in the 60-plus age group there are, especially women. It’s awesome.
What do you say to people who are in that age group who feel they’re too old to do a triathlon or a marathon?
All I do is encourage them to try. Yes, it’s possible. It’s one of these things of, if I can do it, you can do it.
You talk a lot in the book about how running soothes your mind. Is that one of your favourite aspects of running?
Running was really a salvation for me. I was going through some very difficult periods when I started running. And when I got out there to run, you’re lost in this huge globe of greenery and various things in nature that make you realize how minimal your insignificant problems are. It’s just uplifting.
The idea of a Roman Catholic nun competing in triathlons surely raised a lot of eyebrows in the sisterhood in the past. Does that still happen?
They are so accepting, it’s remarkable. I guess I was just too avant-garde at the time. Now it’s become so routine to see athletes doing triathlons that it’s just become more acceptable.
What do you tell people who say you’ve got it easy because you’ve got God on your side?
I say, ‘You do, too. I haven’t got a handle on God alone. You can do it, too.’
This interview has been condensed and edited.
