Jeff Galloway, the 1972 Olympian and pioneering running coach, has passed away at the age of 80.
Widely celebrated for developing the Run-Walk-Run method, Galloway left an indelible mark on the running community, inspiring millions of athletes of all ages and abilities to complete races they once thought impossible.
His death was confirmed by his family on social media, where they remembered him as a husband, father, grandfather, coach, mentor, and believer in everyone’s potential.
Born John F. Galloway on July 12, 1945, in Raleigh, North Carolina, Galloway’s early life was marked by frequent relocations due to his father’s naval career, attending 14 schools by the time he reached eighth grade.
Initially an overweight and academically struggling student, he discovered cross-country running, which he described as both a mental and emotional boost. Running quickly became central to his life, helping him improve both physically and academically.
At Westminster Schools in Atlanta, he eventually ran a 4:28 mile and captured a state championship in the two-mile race at age 17.
His success continued at Wesleyan University, where he trained alongside notable athletes, including Amby Burfoot and Bill Rodgers, and later improved his times significantly.
After graduating, Galloway served as a gunnery officer in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Even in a war zone, running remained his refuge, helping him manage stress and maintain focus.
Following his military service, he pursued a master’s degree in social studies at Florida State University.
There, he trained rigorously, running up to 140 miles a week, and began achieving remarkable results, including winning the inaugural Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta in 1970 and placing seventh at the Boston Marathon in 1972.
He qualified for the 10,000 meters at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where he competed as part of the U.S. team.
While Galloway achieved impressive personal success on the track, his enduring legacy came from his innovative coaching. In 1974, while teaching a fitness class at Florida State University, he realized that alternating running with walking intervals could allow non-runners to build endurance while avoiding injury.
This insight evolved into the Run-Walk-Run method, affectionately known as “Jeffing.” Through this approach, he empowered countless individuals to complete their first 5Ks, half-marathons, and marathons.
Galloway also had a significant impact on the broader running community. He founded Phidippides, America’s first specialty running store, developed running camps and retreats, and helped organize major races, including the Peachtree Road Race and the Avon Running series.
He authored over 20 books on running, including the best-selling Galloway’s Book on Running, which remains a cornerstone of coaching literature.
His involvement with runDisney as the official training consultant made him a beloved figure for Disney race participants, where he guided runners with training plans, clinics, and personal encouragement at race expos.
Despite his professional accomplishments, Galloway remained deeply committed to his family. He and his wife Barbara, herself an accomplished marathoner, shared a passion for running that extended to their two sons, Brennan and Westin.
Even after surviving a near-fatal heart attack in 2021, which he attributed in part to Agent Orange exposure during his Navy service, Galloway remained an advocate for the life-changing benefits of running.
The running world remembers him as more than an Olympian or coach. He was a mentor who saw potential in every person and inspired a generation to move, challenge themselves, and believe in their abilities.
His family’s tribute summed it up: he will live on through every finish line crossed by those he guided. Jeff Galloway’s legacy is measured not only in records or races but in the countless lives he transformed through running.
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