Endurance, Identity, and the Long Way Home: Ishmael Burdeau, the Autistic Ultrarunner
Written by Ishmael Burdeau. Subheadings added by the Neurodiverse Sport team to support readability.
This is part two of a two-part blog post. To read part one, see Out of Step, Built to Endure: Ultrarunner Ishmael’s Early Struggles with Sport. In this powerful and reflective piece, Autistic ultrarunner and UESCA-certified running coach Ishmael Burdeau shares his experiences of growing up undiagnosed, discovering his identity through endurance sport, and recognising the profound alignment between Autism and ultra-distance disciplines.
Ishmael Burdeau, Ultrarunner and Coach
Ultra-Endurance
"Fifteen years later, and I had spent each of these intervening years dedicated to the pursuit of endurance sports, first moving back into competitive cycling, and then ultracycling.
Even by the standards of road racing cyclists, ultracycling is a tough sport. For me, it began with 24-hour time trials, in which I covered as many as 485 miles without stopping. This eventually led to two completions of the now-legendary Transcontinental Race, riding from London to Istanbul, self-supported."
Self-Acceptance
"After facing the often terrifying roads of eastern Europe and achieving my goals of racing across Europe, I knew it was time to return to the simple sport that had truly touched my heart: running.
But, given my new-found inner strength and mental toughness, I knew that ‘normal’ running would not be something for me. Instead I turned to ultrarunning, beginning with ‘easy’ 50km races before eventually completing events such as the 268-mile Spine Race in January 2017, and more recently the North and South Wales 200 mile races, as well as many shorter events such as the Lakeland 100 and the West Highland Way Race in Scotland."
Autism and Ultrarunning: A Natural Match
"But for some reason it was not until the global Covid pandemic that I began to fully acknowledge and eventually embrace my autism, and it took me a little while longer to see the connections between my deep appreciation of ultrarunning and its connection to my autistic experience.
I now understand that my autism and athletic life are inextricably linked, in that my wellbeing requires an athletic outlet, and my autistic strengths are a wonderful complement to my ultrasport endeavours."
Ishmael Burdeau, Ultrarunner and Coach
Built for the Long Haul
"Through the recent achievements of much younger autistic ultrarunners like Zach Bates and John Almeda, both of whom I followed to outstanding performances in this year’s gruelling Western States 100 Mile Run in California, I now see that in many ways the sport of ultrarunning is very well aligned to the autistic mindset more generally. These include: resilience and the ability to stick things out; a love of routine which keeps us on track with our training and planning; the ability to focus our minds for extraordinary lengths of time to achieve our goals; and a willingness to do things which most others would consider very odd or even crazy."
The Power of Fit
"Far from being a disability which impedes us, I have come to realise that once we find the right activity to match our autistic interests and we have the right support systems in place, it can be difficult to stop autistic athletes from achieving their goals, whatever they might be.
In my own case, this has led me to aspire towards becoming a lifelong endurance athlete."
Final Thoughts
Ishmael’s story isn’t just about achievement—it’s about alignment. By finding a sport that matched both his passion and his neurotype, he built a life that feels purposeful and authentic. His journey reminds us that there is no single path to success in sport—or life. What matters most is that the path works for you.
Follow Ishmael on Instagram: @sublimechaser
Read Ishmael’s article on I Run Far: The Rise of Autistic Ultrarunners
Takeaways From Ishmael’s Journey
For Neurodivergent Individuals:
Find your fit
→ Team sports aren’t for everyone—and that’s okay. Explore until you find a space where your strengths shine.
Redefine what Autism looks like
→ Being athletic and being Autistic aren’t mutually exclusive. Embrace your unique combination of traits.
Use movement for wellbeing
→ Sport doesn’t have to mean medals. It can be self-care, expression, or regulation—and that’s enough.
For Peers, Supporters, and Parents:
See the unseen
→ Don’t assume someone lacks ability just because it’s not expressed in typical ways.
Affirm late bloomers
→ It’s never too late to be understood. Recognition and support in adulthood can be life-changing.
Stay curious
→ If someone loves something that seems unusual to you, lean in with interest, not judgment.
For Coaches, Leaders, and Organisations:
Spot potential off the beaten path
→ Athletes like Ishmael may not shine in traditional drills—but that doesn’t mean they lack talent.
Adapt the system
→ Inclusive coaching starts by listening. Shift your methods to support different ways of learning and engaging.
Celebrate autistic strengths
→ Focus, discipline, and endurance aren’t just helpful—they’re elite-level traits. Build your team around them.
Written by Ishmael Burdeau. Subheadings added by the Neurodiverse Sport team to support readability.