The Grace to Race - by Sister Madonna Buder & Karin Evans Paperback

About the Book

The Iron Nun," a champion triathlete still competing at age 80, shares her inspiring firsthand account of achieving harmony between body, mind, and soul.

Book Synopsis

SISTER MADONNA BUDER is 80 years old, has run more than 340 triathlons, and doesn't know what all the fuss is about. In The Grace to Race, she shares the no-nonsense spirit and deep faith that inspired her extraordinary journey from a prominent St. Louis family to a Catholic Convent and finally to championship finish lines all over the world.

As a beautiful young woman, she became an elegant equestrian and accomplished amateur actress. But as she describes in this intimate memoir, she had a secret plan as early as 14: she wanted to devote her life to God. After being courted by the most eligible bachelors in her hometown, she chose a different path and became a Sister of the Good Shepherd.

She lived a mostly cloistered life as a Nun until her late forties, when a Priest suggested she take a run on the beach. She dug up a pair of shorts in a pile of donated clothes, found a pair of second-hand tennis shoes, and had a second epiphany. This time, she discovered the spiritual joy of pushing her body to the limit and of seeing God's natural world in all its splendor.

More than thirty years later, she is known as the Iron Nun for all the triathlons she has won. Just five years ago, the age 75-79 category was created for her at the Hawaiian Ironman in Kona, where she completed a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a full 26.2-mile marathon in record time. Now she has set her sights on a new goal: inaugurating another new Ironman age group, 80-84, in 2010.

Sister Madonna holds dozens of records, has broken dozens of bones, and tells of dozens of miracles and angels that propelled her to a far-flung race. "It is my faith that has carried me through life's ups and downs," she writes. "Whenever injured, I wait for the Lord to pick me up again and set me on my feet, confidently reminding Him, 'God, you know, my intent is to keep running toward you.'"

The Grace to Race is the courageous story of a woman who broke with convention, followed her heart, and found her higher mission.

Review Quotes

""The Grace to Race "is inspiring and funny. The story of this now-80-year-old nun will make you want to push your body to the limit as you learn to appreciate the miracle and splendor of Creation."
--Mary Higgins Clark

"Sister Madonna is a genuine heroine, a person whose example we badly need. Not everyone is going to do a triathlon, of course, or even aspire to a marathon. But just getting out and moving can do wonders, and she's a beacon of hope."
--Walter Bortz MD, author of "Aging for Dummies", "Dare to Be 100", and "The Roadmap to 100"

"Sister Madonna proves you can make records, and break them all over again, at any age. Her spirit is without limits."
--Dara Torres, Olympic gold medalist and author of
"Age Is Just a Number"

"Sister Madonna's courage and wisdom shine through the pages of this warm, funny and inspirational memoir. You'll learn a lot about finding joy, achieving your goals, facing hardships, loving God and the rest of those in the human 'race, ' and keeping a sense of humor about it all--oh, and about running, too."
--Father James Martin SJ, author of "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything"

"Sister Madonna's story is one of purpose, conviction and passion. She dismisses boundaries and proves to us that nothing is impossible. "The Grace to Race" is both inspirational and energizing; long live the Iron Nun!"
--Dean Karnazes, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Ultramarathon Man"

"Sister Madonna s courage and wisdom shine through the pages of this warm, funny and inspirational memoir. You'll learn a lot about finding joy, achieving your goals, facing hardships, loving God and the rest of those in the human race, and keeping a sense of humor about it all oh, and about running, too."
Father James Martin SJ, author of "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything"

"Sister Madonna s story is one of purpose, conviction and passion. She dismisses boundaries and proves to us that nothing is impossible. "The Grace to Race" is both inspirational and energizing; long live the Iron Nun!"
Dean Karnazes, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Ultramarathon Man"

About the Author

SISTER MADONNA BUDER, also known as "the Iron Nun," "the Flying Nun," and "the Mother Superior of Triathlon," is a Roman Catholic nun. She began running in 1978 at age 48. As of 2009, has completed 38 marathons and 325 triathlons. An inspiration to athletes and non-athletes, the religious and the secular, she has appeared in such publications as Runner's World, U.S. News & World Report, Sports Illustrated, AARP Bulletin, USA Today, the Seattle Times, the Denver Post, Competitor Magazine, Triathlete Magazine, Ironman Magazine, More Magazine, and numerous others She lives in Washington Sate.

KARIN EVANS has been a writer and editor at many major national publications, including Newsweek, Outside, and Health. Her writing has also appeared in such places as More Magazine, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. Her book, The Lost Daughters of China (Tarcher, Penguin/Putnam, 2000) was a national bestseller. With Amy Tan, she co-authored the text for Mei-Mei: Portraits from a Chinese Orphanage (Photographs by Richard Bowen, Chronicle Books, 2005).