Autistic HSer, who scored 20 points in 4 minutes in his only bball game and got LRC QOD status, runs 3:01 marathon

Quite a young man. The basketball game was so inspiring. Jason obviously does not buy into the labels and limitations others place on him. Good life lesson for all of us regardless of the label.

I think that most autistic people have balance and physical development issues.

Being on the autistic spectrum is very common for runners. He's more disabled than most, but I'm not surprised at all.

Co-morbid OCD is quite common with spectrum disorders as well, and the combo can make a favorable psychological profile for the distance runner-- for swimmers as well.

I think this is a fantastic thread. That was one of the most memorable videos I had ever seen. Great to get an update on J-Mac.

And a 3:01 marathon is VERY impressive. I don't care who you are, that's a fantastic time.

Congrats to J-Mac, I'm a huge fan!

Aspergers is not on the autism spectrum. It is not autism. The extent to which it is a disorder, it is an entirely different disorder with a different etiology.

Aspergers Guy wrote:

My point stands Rojo - you have had to delete 5+ insensitive and offensive remarks against people on the auutism spectrum. Is it even worth it mention this story on this board? You step away for a minute and 10 more comments will appear allowing this thread on this message board to cause more harm than any good it might hope to do. Why bother posting something like this on this board given this set-up. Lose-Lose situation.

Let's be honest wrote:

Aspergers is not on the autism spectrum. It is not autism. The extent to which it is a disorder, it is an entirely different disorder with a different etiology.

See:

It is one thing what the DSM 5 says - reality is another issue. They didn't want to place it on the spectrum but political pressure forced their hands. To any clear thinking person, Aspergers is not a disorder and it clearly is not autism.

DSM-5 wrote:

Let's be honest wrote:

Aspergers is not on the autism spectrum. It is not autism. The extent to which it is a disorder, it is an entirely different disorder with a different etiology.

See:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123527833

I remember this! I was going nuts! He was in Fire! Maybe one of the greatest things I've seen!!!

Gotta say folks, you aren't a human being if you aren't moved by this kid's story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fw1CcxCUgg

Maybe some of you have never had to struggle for anything, or lack empathy. But, this is an inspirational story -- and not just because of this kid, but the way his classmates reacted to it.

Turns out that in high school he was a scoring member of the XC team. Post high school, he has continued to help coach not just basketball, but XC and track as well.

3:01 marathon is flat out incredible. Once in awhile, a story just works out perfect, better than a movie. For this kid, it has happened twice.

Uncle Systematic wrote:

3:01 marathon is flat out incredible.

LOL

Pretty awesome stuff. Glad to of read that

ESPN coverage of Jason's night of magic. definitely makes you tear up.

I will be really disappointed if that is a 3:01 "paul ryan marathon".

rojo wrote:

Anyone remember Jason McElwain?

The autistic HSer who scored 20 points in 4 minutes in his only bball game and got LRC QOD status back in 2006?

http://www.letsrun.com/2006/homepage0225.phphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fw1CcxCUgg

Well he's quite the runner as well as he just ran 3:01 and qualified for Boston.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/more/09/24/Jason-McElwain-Rochester-Marathon.ap/index.html

Care to take a stab at what percentage of the human population can run a 3:01 marathon vs. what percentage of the human population can go potty on their own? It's not a relevant comparison, and it is patronizing.

It is really is amazing that some people on here just can't give the kid his proper due. Just because you're a Letsrun.com elitist having run your 15 minute 5K doesn't give you the right to judge this kid's results. Have a little class please. It only shows your lack thereof. Don't be the bully back in high school that made fun of the special ed kids.

As the parent of a young autistic child, I can only hope that my son can aspire to have an athletic achievement such as this. How many people in the US have run a 3:01 marathon or better? I'd be curious to know what that number is or what the percentage of all marathoners is that run 3:01 or better.

For those of you that don't have an autistic child, you have NO idea what parents go through on a daily basis. It is a grind every single day! There are different severities of autism on the autism spectrum and if I remember correctly, I believe that Jason has Asperberger's which is more of a social disfunction. Let the kid feel good about himself.

Since the kid is high functioning it isn't that shocking to me. It is an amazing achievement and I don't want to take away from that. He clearly has a passion for sports and he could be used as a motivator for many kids.

However if he were a low functioning kid and ran a 3:01 that would be like breaking the 2 hour marathon. If you have ever been around low functioning it is way more undertandable how amazing that would be.

Kid is flat out amazing! but lets not act like he was the first one to break the 4 minute mile here.

10srunner1 wrote:

Jason has Asperberger's which is more of a social disfunction.

that's weird- a socially awkward distance runner. it sounds oddly familiar

I ran for a nearby high school in rochester at the same time as this guy. Everyone knew / loved the kid, and not in a mocking way, he was just a cool bro basically.

Does his disability make a 3:01 marathon much more difficult?

If so, then good job goes out to the kid for overcoming it.

If not, then this is nothing extraordinary and making a big deal of it could be taken as demeaning by implying that anything the kid does is great.