The Grace to Race: The Wisdom and Inspiration of the 80-Year-Old World Champion Triathlete Known as the Iron Nun

by Madonna Buder, Karin Evans

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Biography Memoir, Spirituality, Memoir, Biography, Religion

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2010

Reviews

[Pennylope · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm torn about this book. I've always been awed by Sister Buder. She is an amazing athlete and I can only hope to still be competing at her age (because honestly that's likely the only way I'll qualify for Kona). And then I find out that she is an alum of my alma mater, and u like her even more!

But, this book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. A big part of it is that 95% of the triathlon stories that she tells end with "and then I ended up in the hospital with steel plates in my [x,y,z body part]." Even the unluckiest person could not have as many bicycle accidents as she does. It's clear from her tales of her earlier days that she is just incredibly reckless under the guise of "god will protect me." (Eg: "Oh, i was climbing a 14-er in loafers and shorts and almost died but god helped! haha."). Reckless cyclists make it dangerous for everyone out there and give cyclists a bad name. She seemed so flippant about all these "I almost died, but god saved me, heehee. I'm so silly and daring, how cute." I had trouble stomaching it. Having known ppl who died or who were seriously injured by bicycle accidents, that kind of recklessness is neither cute nor funny.

[Yasmin]

I liked reading more about the Iron Nun in "Older Faster Stronger" by Margaret Webb (along with other women runners she profiles) than getting Buder's story in her own words.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-1/2 rounded up. The first half of the book, about the author's upbringing, experiences, and decision to become a nun, and then an athlete, was very interesting. The second half was all about her various triathlons, one by one. I'm afraid this section began to feel somewhat repetitive to me, and it wasn't clear to me by the end why she kept competing through so many injuries, often against her doctors' advice. She did allude to becoming a victim of the obsession she had heard about with serious athletes, and that is certainly what seemed to happen. I applaud her achievements but it was a bit of a slog getting through that last section of the book.

[Debbie Sutton Matro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every page of this book!! I was so encouraged and inspired by Sister Madonna !!

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am SO disappointed with this book. I started reading it looking for inspiration and motivation and finished it needing a new role model. I wish I would have never read this book so I could continue going on in my ignorant admiration. But the fact is, this is 250 pages of self-aggrandizement, complaining and distasteful accusations. Every single chapter included a new bike accident. Absolutely no way would I ride in a pack with sister Madonna! Her reckless riding and approach to training is not a compliment to triathlon.

Every single chapter included some complaint or accusation against a fellow triathlete who probably had no malicious intention of wronging Sister Madonna, but was nonetheless painted out to be some kind of moron that intentionally set out to ruin Sister Madonna's race. She kicked another swimmer who used Sister Madonna as an inspiration!? Additionally her unbecoming accusations of people who were just looking to do their thing is extremely distasteful for any fellow triathlete, let alone a Nun. Who made her a privilaged triathlon goddess?

Every chapter also ended with "and then I set a new record," which I also found rather unbecoming. I've had a really hard time getting through this book and I almost quit after the accusations of sabotage. Do you have proof? No? then leave it out. This book left a bad taste in my mouth, and I would not recommend it to anyone.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always feel privileged to read someone’s memoir. I admire their courage to share their inner feelings and details of their lives. Sister Madonna is an enjoyable character! Her faith is more the size of a mountain than a mustard seed and I loved reading about the ways she let her love of God go forth and shine every day of her life!

She no doubt gets her perseverance, determination and ability to conquer physical and mental pain from God. And she gives all the glory to Him. She maintains a sharp sense of humor throughout her many ups and downs. I loved how she found her purpose in life through physical exertion and uniting her personal sufferings to those of Jesus Christ on the cross. She is an example of the strength of the human spirit and how God provides when you just let it all go and trust in Him. Easier said then done at times, but if Sister Madonna can do it during more than 340 Triathlons, I too can do it more in my every day life.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone inspired by Sister Madonna's amazing story. She is now in her 80s and just finished another Ironman! However, it is ghostwritten and poorly edited ("aerobars" is spelled as "arrowbars" throughout). I still recommend it for endurance athletes and those who think they are too old to start running or competing in triathlons. Sister started running in her late 40s and is still at it many decades later!

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.45 stars
Sister Madonna Buder is an amazing person. Her memoir is inspiring and motivating. She never gives up and persues her dreams with a positive attitude.

It is almost unbelievable how many things go wrong for her in sports and how many accidents she has but she never gives up - one BADASS woman! Her faith in God just keeps her going.

Her life is not told in order in this book. It jumps back and forth which I normally don't like but I didn't mind too much in this case.

[Taylor S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring for so many different reasons! Any athlete or runner must read - or if you're considering a new workout regiment.

[Christy Keeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an Ironman triathlete, I loved reading Sister Madonna's autobiography. Hearing of her accomplishments and joining on her journey to open new age groups to the sport was a joy. It was also inspiring to read her perspectives on trials—she was always grateful for the "angels" who helped her and always trusted God would do what was in His best interest.

I give the book only three stars because it falls into a very small niche and (though there is a collection of insights at the end) reads like a personal journal of her modestly- described accomplishments. I would have preferred she shared her insights throughout the book, creating self-help or guidance for athletes seeking to live their dreams in alignment with God's plans. Mostly, though, I'd hoped to read more about her life as a nun and how that interacted with her role as a triathlete. How did the church respond to her desire to race? How did she/they play the exorbitant expenses of the sport. She tells of those who helped and supported her financially, but I wanted more. Also, was her racing a part of her assigned ministry or something she did in her "free time." What does it mean to be a nun and a triathlete? A nun and a champion? A nun and a driven competitor?

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of wanted more from this, but I'm not sure what I was expecting. It was an interesting account of a life that requires an strength of will that is difficult for me to imagine (in both being a nun and a triathlete). This woman has had so many injuries, it's hard to believe she's still competing, regardless of her age. The fact that she is still doing this into her 80s is amazing. And it seems that it truly is her unwavering faith that allows her to live this way and achieve what she has.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sister Madonna is truly a remarkable women - I can't fathom the idea of a triathlon right now, let alone completing one in my seventies! I found the first half of the book particularly interesting as she shared her journey into the sisterhood and her calling to race. Once she started getting into all the details of her various races and the different challenges she faced along the way, it actually seemed to get a little repetitive. Perhaps it is just that she only wrote about the races where something almost went disastrously or something actually did go wrong, but it started to feel like nothing would go smoothly. The last third of the book became more of a recounting of near misses without any bigger picture narrative or inspiration. I was also curious how she afforded participating in and traveling to all of these races and how it fit in with her responsibilities to the order - even after switching orders, I would think she would still have things that were required of her? Or was that her races? It wasn't really clear, so became a big unanswered question for me. Still, hats off to her physical tenacity and dedication - she is one impressive human.

[Amanda Bugna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I aspire to be as active as Sister Modonna when I am older! It is amazing that she is the oldest person ever to have completed an Ironman. I loved hearing how she uses God to guide her through Ironman triathlon training and competing. It was also very interesting learning about she originally went into the convent and became a nun and the different assignments she was given during her time serving.

[Mwenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The “Reflections” section (the last three pages of the book) are the best part! Sister Madonna has had an interesting athletic life to be sure, but this read as a list of races and mishaps. I am sad to agree with other comments I’ve seen about the theme of recklessness. I wanted to love it and feel
Inspired, but alas I don’t.

[Teresa Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A miraculous read!

I gave this book a 5 because I found a kindred soul in these pages. I found strength and the motivation I was lacking after fracturing my elbow in a bike accident. I was depressed. This book lifted me and got me back on my bike. Thank you Sister for sharing the wisdom of your vast experience.

[Holly Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amazing, absolutely amazing what this lady is able to keep up with. I think her story had too many details that weren't fully fleshed out. Towards the end of the book, my bookmark was misplaced, and I realized I had no idea how to find my place, because all the races and injuries blurred together.

[Robert Rosario Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

I enjoyed reading this book. It is both an autobiography and a nice summary of many triathlon races. With so many books out on how to win, it is nice to read one on how to enjoy the process.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I choose to read this book because I needed some motivation. This woman is just simply amazing! She is inspiring to so many people and has overcome so many accidents and injuries, shes I incredible! Her faith in God is as strong as she is.

[Mihaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! :)

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, inspiring read. It's inspiring even if you don't swim, bike, or run.

[Angela P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved her enthusiasm for life.

[Mohammed Faiz Kamaludin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!!!

[Carmen Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an inspiring story! Even though I am not planning to take up running, I am inspired to continue living my life to the fullest, even as I enter my late sixties.

[Róisín · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book. So inspiring & motivational. Very easy read. Nicely written & humorous in parts

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspirational true story and proof that it's never too late to pursue a dream.

[Terzah · Rating 3 out of 5]

My book club recently read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, a media sensation of a memoir by a woman who sought to raise her two daughters "the Chinese way" (which as far as I could tell consisted mostly of spending lots of money on forced music lessons, practice, instruments and music-related travel, and no tolerance for much in the way of social activities). While I was in the bookstore buying it, I saw another book that I couldn't resist purchasing as well: The Grace to Race: The Wisdom and Inspiration of the 80-Year-Old World Champion Triathlete Known as the Iron Nun.

Put the Tiger Mother and the Iron Nun head to head and I know who would come out on top! Sister Madonna Buder started running at age 48, qualified for Boston very quickly with a time of 3 hours 29 minutes and change (the standard for women over 40 at the time was 3 hours 30 minutes) and began competing in triathlons soon after that. She set several records for older age-group women in the Ironman distance and is still racing today, at 80, though it sounds like she has stomach issues.

Her book also details a penchant for close calls, travel scares and accidents. I could have done with fewer details about these, as well as fewer accounts of races. I say, when you've been through as much as Sister has, pick a few key races and harrowing incidents and really flesh them out. Whether they ended well or badly, we will learn more from a few well told than too many told in tedious chronological order.

I did enjoy the expected but still uncanny role that God has played in her decision to compete and persevere. Many athletes chant mantras when the going gets tough. Sister Madonna's have to do with praising God and praying for other people. Her list of reflections is a good tip list for anyone undertaking a tough goal. And I also liked how, even though she is a nun, it's clear that she can be prickly, opinionated and in the heat of competition even irritable--just like any other high-strung athlete (and make no mistake, this late bloomer is talented).

[Rosemary Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book after seeing a video on Facebook about this 80-something nun who did over 300 triathlons and many IronMan competitions. OK, I had to bite. How? How does someone with this many decades under her belt keep putting one foot in front of the other for hours on end?

So I read it. (This can be done in just a couple of hours.) While Sister Madonna is someone you will quickly put on your "I gotta meet her one day" list, the book itself is not well-organized or well-written. I felt like I needed a motion discomfort bag just from the mish-mash of dates and time periods. I like linear. This book is not linear. It reads like a stream-of-consciousness essay.

Then there are the details of her many mishaps. (It truly is a miracle that this woman is still alive.) She has been hit by cars (frequently!!) and, through what seems like a combination of bad judgment and poor planning, she has survived more physical blunders and collisions than most of the people I know ..... added up together!

Finally, I hoped to have some useful take-aways. What is her diet like? Mediocre, it turns out. Well, how about her carefully engineered training program? There isn't one. She wings it, apparently.

The woman's faith and spirit are the stuff of legends. She is a character. I really would love to spend an afternoon with her. I just did not get the athletic inspiration I was seeking from the book.

[Grzegorz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dosyć nietypowa książka poświęcona triathlonistce w bardzo podeszłym wieku i do tego będącej zakonnicą. Jednak właśnie ta nietypowość była czymś co mnie fascynowało i kusiło do jej przeczytania. Zdecydowanie był to miło spędzony czas i zdecydowanie poczułem się zaisnpirowany jej historią. Jeśli pomyślimy, że kobieta w wieku 80 lat robi Ironmana to jak można się nie zmobilizować do ruszenia tyłka z kanapy? Dla przypomnienia to 3.86km pływania, 180km rowerem i 42.195km biegu. To co mnie najbardziej zaszokowało,a czego tu nie zdradzę to metody treningowe tej pani które mieszczą się na niecałej połowie strony. Niestety był też mniej fajny etap w tej książce który mi zdecydowanie nie szedł. Był to opis jej życia czyli jakieś pierwsze 100 stron, ale potem się rozkręca i jest dobrze. Przy czym zastrzegam, że dla kogoś innego ten początek tez może być ciekawy. Jak najbardziej polecam tę książkę.

[Shelby Poinikiewski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book years ago and wanted to love it. As an actual Roman Catholic who was learning how to be a runner, my Uncle (very sweetly) gifted this book to me. But I found a lot of inconsistency in her storyline, at one point referencing a pope who never existed and never really talking about the other sisters in her community or how being in triathlons every other weekend fit into her being a religious sister. She mentioned Mass twice that I can remember in the whole book. For what it was advertised "triathlete and Roman Catholic nun" I thought I would get a lot more of that but it was just one accident after another and "I prayed to God and he helped me get on the train" or "helped me get up the hill" or "helped me blah blah blah" and I just had a hard time buying it.

After googling, I found out she left the convent she joined after Vatican 2 and was no longer canonically in a religious order. That made everything make sense.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Madonna Buder is an inspiration with her courage, devotion and simplicity of her life. The book is inspiring and definitely opens a small window into the life of a triathlete and how it consumes them. I found the writing style to be somewhat all over the board with lack of sequence to the events, but also wonderful to read in it's simplicity and honesty as well. Maybe I don't understand the complexity of being a triathlete and the intensity of it, but I found some of the things that Sister Madonna put herself through to be ridiculous. All of her injuries, her lack of experience, not educating herself about what she was becoming involved in seemed very naive to me. While I found her inspiring, I also found her naivety somewhat insulting, especially after she's been doing this for so long. Still a good read though.