Running legend Jeff Galloway, pioneer of the Run-Walk-Run method, dies at 80
Former US Olympian Jeff Galloway, a key figure in the American running boom, has died at 80. He passed away on Wednesday afternoon in a Pensacola hospital after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. His innovative training methods and competitive achievements left a lasting mark on the sport.
Galloway first gained recognition as a standout athlete at Florida State University, earning All-American honours. In 1970, he won the inaugural Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, a 10-kilometre event now known as the world's largest of its kind.
He later qualified for the 1972 US Olympic team in the 10,000 metres and was also a marathon alternate. At the trials, he famously stepped aside at the finish line, allowing a friend to secure third place and an Olympic spot.
Galloway's greatest influence came through his Run-Walk-Run method, which encouraged runners to take strategic walk breaks. He demonstrated its effectiveness by finishing the 1980 Houston Marathon in 2:16:35—faster than his previous attempts without walking. This approach made marathon training more accessible to millions of amateurs worldwide.
Beyond coaching, he authored books and led programmes that popularised running for decades. His work inspired countless runners, though no exact figures track the method's global reach.
Galloway is survived by two sons and six grandchildren. His legacy includes a revolution in distance running, helping ordinary athletes achieve marathon success. His methods and spirit continue to shape the sport today.
