any ASPIE runners?

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Hi Folks,

I'm an avid runner. I run for fitness and for psychological well being, and I compete in road races regularly. I socialize with many runners in real life and online, and there's definitely an obsessive streak running through the hard-core runner community. I've also noticed that many serious runners are engineers, computer programmers, etc. Makes me wonder if those with ASD traits might be attracted to this sport. Are many of you runners?

I have twin ASD daughters, and I wonder if they'll be able to enjoy this sport, like I have. I hope they will - it's solitary, doesn't require a great deal of coordination, helps with the psych, etc. Seems like something that might appeal to someone with an ASD.

So, any track stars or hobby joggers here?

I do track at school

Cool! What events? I'm a 5k-10K guy myself, but I'm a better miler (just not as many oppurtunities for mile races for a 37 year old)!

I always liked sprinting, but any long distance really wears me out.

Yeah, I like sprinting too - just no good at it (and at my age, I'd just hurt myself if I tried to get good at it!). Most folks who wear out at distance try to train at too fast a pace. Distance racing, of course, is just subjecting yourself to a world of hurt, but the training usually doesn't need to be strenuous.

I run. I like running.

not in the last few days but I ran farther and faster about a week ago than i have
in many years. I hate to go out in day light. I prefer 3 am, when no people are out but my sleeping pattern has shifted were thats not possible.

hardcore cyclist

I swim.

The short-story "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" by Alan Sillitoe may appeal to you.
Good film too.

Not for years. I could never run distance, but I ran the 100 yard dash and the hurdles.

Running is great for me. Especially if it's away from traffic and I can just be by myself with my thoughts.

The thing that saved my life was my bicycle though. It's no problem for me to go for a 3 or 4 hour ride, but I could never run that long. It's so important to me because before I had ever heard of AS, and I was living with it, it was on my very long rides that I learned to cope with whatever it was that caused me so much grief in life.

The solitude was terrific, and it turned out to be a perfect way to mediatate. Think about it, you're finally able to clear all the noise from your head, and the rhythmic breathing involved channels the thoughts. It's very much like what any mediatating religon does, with the same results of self-awareness, and inner peace. I've done a couple hundred mile rides, and any time I've had a revelation about how I should live my life, it always came on the bike.

I think that's why many Aspies like running/riding, we're the only ones who can fully appreciate the solitude and peace of mind. I used to run more when I had a dog, with him it was perfect. Solitude, peace of mind and animal companion. Oh...heaven!

i'm a pretty good runner, can't cycle though

I used to do cross-country (in fact, I did from 7th to 10th grade) but I decided not to do it this year because of academic demands. Nonetheless, I still consider myself as having a runner's background. What I have consistently done, though, is Track & Field. I participate on our school's varsity 4x400 team, which is a really short but oh-so-sweet race. I also do the three jumps: long jump, triple jump, and high jump. Needless to say, I'm pretty busy at each meet.

I don't run, but I read a lot about famous runners. I suspect Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four-minute mile, had some Asperger's characteristics. He went on to become a physician, specializing in neurology. He used a scientific approach to running that enabled him to succeed in doing what was once considered impossible.

I used to run quite a bit. I prefer mountain biking these days...when I crash I can just pretend I was being hard core.

I do 10k every other morning, and have for almost 15 years. It feeds my need for routine, and helps tremendously with daily frustrations: anything that's bugging me comes right to the surface and gets confronted. I call it my "free therapy".