Changing Aging Assumptions

As someone who has worked in the field of aging for over 20 years, I’ve had the good fortune of interacting with many older adults. Each, including my parents, has taught me a lesson in how to age with humor, purpose and, in some respects, prevention.

They have all been role models in how to simply live life: in good health or with chronic health conditions including Alzheimer’s; with no worries about money or under challenging financial circumstances; single, as part of an aging couple or moving forward after the loss of a partner. These relationships have taught me lessons about being open to new adventures, working after the traditional retirement age, contributing to community in meaningful ways and having fun in the process.

In my work as the UW Elder Friendly Futures Conference co-chair, I recently got acquainted with one person who serves as a particularly energizing, inspiring and powerful example of living life with humor and purpose: Sister Madonna Buder of Spokane.

Sister Madonna will give the closing keynote address at this year’s conference, The Essential Work of Caregiving Across Communities (see below for more information).

You may know Sister Madonna better as “The Iron Nun,” a Catholic sister who has competed in over 45 Ironman triathlons. Sister Madonna is a legend among her fellow triathletes, but she became known to the general public through the Nike television advertisement entitled “Unlimited Youth” that ran during the 2016 Summer Olympics. An Ironman triathlon is one of a series of long distance races consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.22-mile marathon run, raced in that order and without a break.

Sister Madonna has loved the outdoors her entire life, but she didn’t start running until she was 48. Inspired by a priest leading a retreat on the Oregon Coast who encouraged attendees to consider running as a way to balance mind, body and soul, she ran for the first time in a pair of borrowed sneakers.

As Sister Madonna shares in her book, The Grace to Race, “part of the joy I found when I first started running was the chance to get out in nature. To this day, my problems seem to shrink when surrounded by God’s Creation.”

What started out as a meditative and prayerful practice also became an opportunity to accomplish a mission through running. Sister Madonna often uses running and triathlons as a vehicle to raise awareness about and funds for research for causes such as multiple sclerosis, breast cancer and diabetes. After she read about a race called the Troika in her local newspaper, Sister Madonna began training for and participating in triathlons. She approached this with an attitude of “Well, I’ve done the epitome of foolishness by engaging in the marathon at my age, so what the heck, why not try this, too?” When it comes to training, Sister Madonna is unconventional. Her goal is to make it joyful. She also uses daily tasks as an opportunity to challenge herself physically.

Trips to the store are done by walking or biking. She maintains a garden in season, and regularly pulls weeds, plants and rakes. She runs to and from her parish. In winter, she often uses cross-country skis and snowshoes to get around. She makes her meals nutritious and simple.

The years of training and competing have been filled with challenges. She’s been hit by cars, sustained a broken hip, femur, ribs, a compound fracture of her right elbow, contusions and a chipped heel. Through it all, she persevered, and continued to train and compete as best she could.

Sister Madonna turned 87 years old on July 24, 2017. She continues to push the boundaries and challenge assumptions about older adults and aging. When she wanted to compete in a triathlon and there wasn’t a category for her age group for women, she requested one and it was granted.

Because of Buder’s pioneering work and accomplishments, there are now age group categories for women age 75–79 and 80+ in many triathlons, including Ironman competitions. When Sister isn’t training and competing, she practices her Catholic faith as a Sister of Christian Community, serving as a daily communicant and lector, alternating between two Spokane parishes and serves faithfully in local prison ministry.

Sister Madonna is also pragmatic about age. She has learned to respect her age and “not push beyond reason. For the more mature athlete, I think endurance is the key, not necessarily speed,” she says. “If you can endure, you can out-do the speedsters who wear themselves out in the beginning stages.”

Sounds like a great metaphor for living life to its fullest.

Contributor Keri Pollock directs marketing and communications for Aging Wisdom, an Aging Life Care™ practice (geriatric care management) serving King and south Snohomish Counties; serves on the Elderwise board of directors, and co-chairs the UW Elder Friendly Futures Conference.

MORE INFORMATION

UW Elder Friendly Futures Conference: The Essential Work of Caregiving Across Communities, September 14-15, 2017, Lynnwood Convention Center. To register, visit www.elderfriendlyfutures.org and take advantage of the Elder Friendly 65+ conference rate. For information, call Sherri at 206-616-1462