Sister Buder's metamorphosis to elite athlete began in 1978 at age 49 when a priest encouraged her and her fellow nuns to start running. Sister Buder felt that the exercise needed a purpose. The priest told them it would help harmonize mind, body and soul and this appealed to Sister Buder. She decided to run an 8.2 mile race and dedicate it to a family member who was having personal problems. Sister Buder believes that anything you do can have a spiritual meaning based on your intentions..

...Sister Buder believes that being in sync with "mind, body and soul" is an attitude of acceptance. Negative thoughts can be changed to positive offering the possibility of peace and serenity. She also believes that goals are powerful incentives. As we achieve a goal we either need to reset it or come up with a new goal to keep you going. She also believes that there is "No such thing as failure as long as one tries. The only failure," she says, "is not to try." It is easy to see that this is how she has lived her life.