Nun fears going rusty

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 18

Nun fears going rusty

PA Auckland Sister Madonna Buder .has turned her back on the snow and ice of her home town in Spokane, Washington, to tackle one of New Zealand's toughest sporting events. ’ The nun, who .is aged 55, and one of 26 women entered in next month’s Double Brown Ironman event says she has a special reason for wanting to get through the twomile swim, 100-mile cycle ride, and 20-mile run on March 9 as quickly as possible. “I’m so full of scrap metal I want to get through the ironman before I rust up,” she said. “I had three cycle injuries in about four months. The first left me with multiple injuries, including a broken arm. The second left me with two broken hips. Now I have screws, plates and pins in all parts of my body and I still walk with a limp.” Sister Madonna, who entered the Order of the Good Shepherd in 1953 - said she had run marathons, her best time being 3hr 25min 17s. She tried her first triathlon in 1982 and has since contested 10. “I have been here in Auckland only a few days, but I am already falling in love with this place,” she said. “It’s just so beautiful.”