She's not that kind of Madonna. Via Matt Woolner @ Flickr.
Three words: Sister Madonna Buder.
Now nearly 79, Sister Madonna of the Sisters for Christian Community (a post-Vatican II Franciscan order) in Spokane, Washington, has competed in more than 300 triathalons–30 of which were “Ironman” triathalons, made up of 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, and a full, 26.2 mile marathon. Without a break.
Holy moly.
If you’re in need of a little inspiration–spiritual or earthly–you can read more on Sister Madonna’s history, injuries, and records here, or head over to YouTube to see this piece on her, which would not embed, made last year (9:30, ends abruptly).
I am neither religious nor athletic, and yet I’m both humbled and inspired to get through my own work (sedentary and grind-y though it is) with better faith in myself. One step at a time.
My aunt Tina (aka Sister Clementine) just recently passed away but before she did she spent 50 years in the convent (Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt) teaching public school in the South Bronx. I’ve long known that nuns are some of the toughest broads you’d ever want to meet. Way to go Sister Madonna. Now if you ladies could just get the church hierarchy to make a couple of changes….
What an inspiration, I saw all 9 mins of the video. Makes me want to go something similar
I’ve seen her story several times as I’ve watched the Kona Ironman televised yearly on NBC. She completely inspires me, and I’m so glad to see that someone else has heard of her and is giving her a well-deserved shout out!
Thanks for this, dear Dorkie!! How incredibly inspiring….but also humbling. Just WOW. I now no longer feel like a badass for doing an hour-long spin class
Puts this in perspective, right?
She is the perfect example of how “muscular Christianity” knows no gender!
(I highly recommend the memoir FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN by Sister Karol Jackowski, who is also a member of the relatively small but very kick-ass Sisters for Christian Community–an order of awesome, modern women religious who engage fully with the world and care for one another in a very Golden Girls kind of way).