Most people running a marathon aim to move forward, fast. But on Sunday in Nottingham, Charles Evans had a different goal entirely.
The British actor and autism advocate ran all 26.2 miles backwards, finishing in five hours and 26 minutes at Nottingham’s Forest Recreation Ground. The feat wasn’t just a personal challenge, it was a powerful statement.
Evans, who was diagnosed with autism as a teenager, said he wanted to show how neurodiverse people often see the world differently. Running backwards, he said, was both a metaphor and a message.
“There is beauty in the difference,” Evans said. “It can be quite disorientating and you use different muscle groups, so feel the pain in different places.”
Though it was his first full marathon done in reverse, Evans trained for months with the help of friends who acted as guides to help him avoid obstacles along the route.
“I often run with other people who are kind enough to be my eyes for the day,” he said. “But there’s also a lot of bumping involved.”
He also pointed out that the biggest challenge wasn’t always physical, it was managing other people’s reactions.
“The hardest part is actually other people’s opinions of it, the heckles that you get as you go out,” Evans said. “Other people want to join in which is always fun, but generally it’s an overwhelmingly positive response.”
Still, Evans said the training had an unexpected benefit.
“I’ve got faster forwards by doing this backwards running, so if anybody’s out there looking for a tip maybe give backwards a try.”
The effort raised money for Autism East Midlands, a regional charity that supports autistic individuals and their families. A spokesperson for the group praised Evans’ effort, saying, “We couldn’t be more grateful of how Charles is using his voice to celebrate neurodiversity and the work we do.”
Evans said he hoped the stunt draws attention to a broader conversation around how society supports people with autism.
“I still think it’s probably woefully underfunded but there’s definitely a trend in the right direction,” he said. “What we’re going for is the idea of not only recognising it and understanding it but realising that there’s actually beauty in the difference.”
While Evans’ primary goal was raising awareness, running backwards has been studied by sports scientists for its physical benefits. A 2011 study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine found that it can improve cardiovascular fitness and reduce strain on the knees.
But for Evans, the point wasn’t to optimize his stride, it was to flip perspectives.
“When people understand autism, that’s good,” he said. “But when they can begin to appreciate it, when they can see the value in different ways of thinking and being, that’s when things really start to change.”
