Iron Sister enjoys her swan song

It took three tries, but Sister Madonna Buder finally achieved her goal of setting a record for the 80-plus age group.

SISTER MADONNA BUDER was all smiles as she began the bike section of Subaru Ironman Canada. The 82-year-old Spokane resident busted through the finish line in 16:32:00.

SISTER MADONNA BUDER was all smiles as she began the bike section of Subaru Ironman Canada. The 82-year-old Spokane resident busted through the finish line in 16:32:00.

It took three tries, but Sister Madonna Buder finally achievedĀ  her goal of setting a record for the 80-plus age group.

ā€œEither the third time is the charm or three strikes and I’m out,ā€ said Buder, 82, who now owns four records. ā€œI really did feel graced to accomplish it.ā€

She continued to do the triathlon because of the triathletes enthusiasm.

ā€œIt’s become family for me,ā€ said Buder. ā€œParticularly the attitude of the Canadians. They are so open and so welcoming. I just feel so much at home coming back to Penticton.ā€

Buder was challenged by the course Sunday when she reached Yellow Lake, an area that has always given her trouble.

ā€œIt’s so tempting to dismount and walk that last portion of it,ā€ she said. ā€œThere are head winds after that little arm before approaching Yellow Lake. I don’t know what it is.ā€

However, she felt a power other than her own pushing her through.

ā€œIt was one of the smoothest that I ever had,ā€ said Buder, who finished the triathlon in 16 hours, 32 minutes. ā€œI really feel truly blessed. Grateful to be able to open the age group.ā€

Asked about the switch from Ironman to Challenge Penticton, Buder welcomes it because of the feeling she’s had since the World Triathlon Corporation took control.

ā€œWe (triathletes) are just treated as a commodity for a business, big business,ā€ said Buder, who grew up in St. Louis, Mo. with a strong tone. ā€œThis corporation (the Challenge Family) seems to have a feel for the triathletes and for the community of Penticton. The Canadians can take it back and own it.ā€

Buder said the community did a superb job with Ironman Canada when it was their own.

ā€œIt was elegant yet it had all the touches that smacked of enthusiasm and appreciation for the efforts of the triathletes,ā€ said Buder. ā€œIt was just wonderful. I know we can’t go backwards. This to me is an eye opener I hope for WTC, that they cannot monopolize the world of triathlon.

ā€œThey are going global but they need to have somebody stand up against them because it’s outrageous,ā€ she continued. ā€œThe prices they are charging it’s like the emperor’s new clothes, you pay more for less.ā€

Buder plans to return to Penticton and participate in Challenge next year in a relay team. In what she described as a ā€œserendipity situation,ā€ she, Graham Fraser’s daughter Ryann, and Dyane Lynch, the first female to do Ironman will form the team. They will be called the Pioneers.

ā€œThis was supposed to be my swan song, kissing the Ironman goodbye. At least taking a vacation from it. I didn’t want to lose contact with the Canadians. Because they had opened this to teams I thought, hey, now I’m still doing a swan song, but I can come back as a team member.ā€

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