Marathoner Yoel Levy, known as “the Jewish fitness coach” on social media, who is based in Manchester, England, plans to lace up his running sneakers and don his Batman costume once again for the New York City Marathon on Nov. 2.
Levy is known for running in the costume in memory of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the two young boys kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with their mother, Shiri Bibas, by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023. The three were murdered in Gaza, though their father, Yarden Bibas, survived. Ariel, 4, adored the superhero and often dressed up like him.
Levy told JNS from New York City that he also plans to run for the Blue Card, a charity that helps needy Holocaust survivors.
Both causes are “close to my heart,” Levy told JNS. “They represent the same message: protecting and remembering Jewish life.”
Running for the Blue Card feels especially meaningful to Levy, who said that the group ensures that survivors receive “the support and dignity they deserve.”
“It’s a way to remember, to give back and to ensure their stories are never forgotten,” he told JNS.
Levy started running when he was a teen to deal with the stress of having dyslexia.
“I became the youngest person to run the London Marathon back in 2017,” he said. “Then I stopped running for a few years, until 2023, when I rediscovered my love for it. It just made me feel good.”
After completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Oct. 19, Levy said his focus is on recovery and preparation. That means “lots of stretching, good food and plenty of carbs,” he said. “The body needs time to rest and refuel between races.”
The upcoming race would be his first time running the New York City Marathon.
“Everyone said it’s the best in the world,” he said, adding that the city “makes you feel part of something big. In a world where so much happens online, New York reminds me to actually live it in person.”
Levy already feels connected to the city. “New York is actually where I rediscovered my love of running,” he said. “After Oct. 7, I joined a group called Nice Jewish Runners here, and it gave me a sense of community.”
The only thing Levy dislikes about New York is the temperature of the coffee, which he thinks is too hot and “takes forever to drink.”
“But I still enjoy it,” he said.
And what fare when the race is over? “Plenty of challah,” he told JNS. “Not a joke.”
