Going the Distance

Following Her First Marathon in 2024, Pali High Alum Joanne Levey Set to Participate in Chicago and Tokyo Marathons

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

After completing her first marathon in November 2024, Palisades Charter High School graduate Joanne “Jojo” Levey is preparing for two upcoming races: Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 12 and Tokyo Marathon 2026 on March 1.

Her first was the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3, 2024, which she ran while raising funds for the Organization for Autism Research’s Run for Autism Change—the same team she will be running with in Chicago. Her goal is to raise $2,100.

“Like last year, I am running with the Organization for Autism Research, raising awareness and improving resources for applied science for autism studies,” Levey said. “Through OAR’s Run Team project, I am running the marathon to increase funding for such studies.”

Run for Autism is the Organization for Autism Research’s “signature fundraising program.” Those who participate can join a team in one of the featured events, like the Chicago Marathon, or run independently as part of its DIY program.

“The Organization of Autism Research was founded by the parents (now Board of Directors) of those with autism to improve the lives of their children,” Levey wrote. “Bettering social, educational and treatment spheres has been the mission of the board, which has since been achieved through creating a Scientific Council and filling out grants to fund applied research. By investigating everyday obstacles of autistic individuals through real-world case studies (rather than large-scale clinical trials), OAR succeeds in disseminating useful information, along with love and support.”

Levey cited her own personal connection, which “extends to the work” she has done over the years, including tutoring children and adults with autism, noting: “It became evident to me how important it is to improve education for those with autism.”

After the Chicago Marathon, Levey will participate in the Tokyo Marathon 2026 with Japan Committee, Vaccines for the World’s Children. She will begin fundraising in November, with a goal of $2,500.

“Together with us, we are looking for charity runners who can run in the streets of Tokyo for the smiles and future of children in developing countries,” its website read.

For her first marathon in 2024, Levey embarked on a 25-plus-week training schedule, complete with a “massive spreadsheet.”

“I’m following a similar training method as last time where I basically made this big spreadsheet where I organize my different styles of runs,” Levey described. “I usually run four to five times a week—two times are what I call my ‘baby runs.’ They range from four to six miles.”

Another day, Levey said, is a “mid-length run,” which started at eight miles, with a plan to work up to 13. Levey’s “long run” day started at 10 miles and, as of the day of the interview, had reached 16. Her plan was to increase the mileage of the middle and long runs each week until she capped out around 50 miles per week, close to marathon day.

Training has taken on a deeper personal meaning for Levey: “My running mentor and close friend, Sean Thomas, passed away in August,” she said. “Every time I run and I do anything related to running, I always will think of him because he was such a dear friend and I just feel inspired to keep him proud.”

Though Levey moved to the East Coast when she went to college at New York University, she still has ties to the Palisades—including a younger brother who is currently a junior at Palisades Charter High School.

“My heart goes out to the whole community,” Levey said. “The Palisades is one of the strongest tight-knit communities, and I’ve felt such warmth in my heart seeing them rebuild what they have lost.”

For more information or to donate to Levey’s goal for the Chicago Marathon, visit support.researchautism.org/2025chicago/jojolevey.