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).

Reviews

""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"