For Jesús Trejo, a landscaper from Greenville, South Carolina, running a marathon was never something he imagined. But after a recent divorce, Trejo, who is on the autism spectrum, saw running as a way to rebuild his confidence and find a new sense of purpose.
“After my divorce, I wanted to start healing,” Trejo, 46, told Remezcla during a recent interview. “My idea was to run a 10K [marathon], but in the process of training, I fell in love with running.”
Ten months after he began training in January, Trejo is set to run the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1. He is a member of Team Inspire, a diverse group of marathon athletes handpicked by New York Road Runners (NYRR), a nonprofit organization.
“It’s an honor to be on the team,” he said. “I’ve read about everyone’s story, and I feel blessed. Some people on the team have been running their whole life.”
NYRR chose Trejo to help challenge misconceptions about disabilities within the Latine community. In addition to being autistic himself, Trejo is the father of Daniel, an 11-year-old son with non-verbal, Level 3 autism.
“My son is the reason I always try to do different things, so hopefully he can try to imitate me and follow in my steps,” Trejo said. “Running in the New York City Marathon has given me an opportunity to talk about autism awareness.”
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts socially, and experiences the world.
According to the Autism Society, approximately 3% of Black, Latine, and Asian or Pacific Islander children have an autism diagnosis, compared to about 2% of white children. Latine children are also diagnosed with autism about 2.5 years later than non-Latine children, which delays their access to crucial support services.
Since January, Trejo has been bringing his son to marathons. They’ve even walked a 5K together.
“He put on the same outfit as the runners,” Trejo said. “Even though he doesn’t understand everything, I want him to know that he can accomplish more. He needs somebody to show him how.”
Trejo hopes his participation in this year’s marathon will help Latine families understand that there is no shame in an autism diagnosis. The stigma and misconceptions surrounding autism in some Latine communities, he said, are gradually giving way to greater awareness and acceptance.
“When I was a kid, my family used to say that I was just shy,” Trejo said. “But I wasn’t shy. I didn’t have the skills to communicate. I panicked if I had to talk to people. As a parent, I have the opportunity to tell others more about autism.”
When Trejo crosses the finish line, he wants others to know they should always encourage their children to try new things, challenge themselves, and discover what they are capable of.
“If they dream it, they can do anything,” he said. “If they pursue it, they can make it a reality.”