Aeilish O’Hanlon of Cork, Ireland, will run the Venice Marathon in October to raise awareness for autism and neurodiversity. O’Hanlon has decided to cover the race’s 26.2-mile distance barefoot. “I wanted to come out of my comfort zone completely, so going to a different country and running it barefoot is going to be really challenging,” she told The Echo.
The 35-year-old O’Hanlon says she received her autism diagnosis just a year ago at age 34. “I’m slowing taking off the mask I’ve worn to fit in for 34 years and finally getting to see who I truly am,” she said to The Echo. The race—which is slated for October 22, 2023—will give O’Hanlon the opportunity to take on a challenge post-diagnosis. “I wanted to come out of my comfort zone completely, so going to a different country and running it barefoot is going to be really challenging,” she said.
In lining up at starting line in front of Villa Pisani, O’Hanlon hopes to draw awareness to the challenge of late autism diagnosis. “Imagine not knowing why you don’t belong in this world, why you’re always exhausted from the simplest tasks, you seem to always be misunderstood, and can’t quite grasp just how to make friends,” Aeilish told The Echo.
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O’Hanlon also runs with the knowledge that the average lifespan of those with autism can be as low as 36 years old. This is due to coexisting neurological conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse as well as physical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and sleep issues. People with autism can also be more injury prone than the general population.
Aeilish plans to continue chronicling her training and autism journey via her TikTok—“The Tism Way”—until at least her 36th birthday. She is currently funding the project via GoFundMe.
Kells McPhillips is a health and wellness journalist living in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Runner's World, The New York Times, Well+Good, Fortune, Shape, and others.
