Entering the Valley First Challenge Penticton half distance relay event was just right for
Sister Madonna Buder.
The 84-year-old took on the 90-kilometre bike distance as she teamed up with Gary Billmark and Andrea Gardiner to form the Pioneers, which finished 47th among the 52 teams that completed the distance.
“I finished the bike surprisingly because it was a difficult little course,” said Buder, adding that it was more difficult than she anticipated. “A mini Richter Pass. A mini Yellow Lake. The last 12-km, we had strong winds in our face. With a 3:45, I was very pleased.”
Billmark completed the swim in 42 minutes, 29 seconds, while Gardiner, joined by Billmark and Buder, crossed the finish line in 2:45:45.
When asked about the atmosphere of the event Buder paused to think, then said she thought there would be more people and felt it was quiet, like last year. However, going into year three, Buder thinks “it will really build.”
“What has seemed to build is the popularity of the half for the teams, individuals,” she said.
