BREAKING NEWS: Olympian & Pioneer of Run/Walk Method Jeff Galloway Has Passed Away at 80

He made a cameo of himself in a movie Office Race. Probably only marathon comedy.

What was his cause of death? RIP

RIP to a legend. I remember about 10-12 years ago, Run Disney made a music video titled "Do the Galloway" about him that was once published to their YouTube but seems to have been deleted since. If anyone has that archived, I would appreciate it.

He really became well-known to the running public in a way that pro track fans like myself don't quite understand. I made lots of references to Gallowalking with my running buddies.

RIP Jeff. It appears he had a great life focused on the lifestyle he loved.

There was a Phidippides shop in Dayton, OH in the late 70s. It may have been the first running specific store I visited and I wore their singlet in my second marathon. I consulted his book regularly in the immediate years after it was published, although I had read about taking walking breaks in the Serious Runner's Handbook by Tom Osler published before the Galloway book.

In December I read on the 7 Decades Marathon website that he was going to run Honolulu a couple of weeks later to try to become the first known finisher of marathons in 8 decades of life.

The fall in his house a week before Honolulu that injured his knee prevented him from starting. On this sad day, I can't help but wonder what would have happened if he would have been able to start the marathon in Honolulu?

I'm going to dig into my box of old running stuff today to see if I still have that singlet.

I went to the Galloway School, which was founded by Jeff's father Elliot. Jeff's brother Charlie was the PE coach for a while. Charlie made everyone run a mile at the beginning of PE and then do sun salutations. Elliot was an avid runner and always told kids about how he started running by going out and counting the telephone polls he passed before he got tired and had to stop. Every day he would try to go at least one poll further than the previous day.

The first 5k I ever ran as a kid was a little fundraiser for the school. Jeff was in town and was the honorary starter/MC. I also used Jeff's book to train for my first marathon. Did not do the walk run strategy, but his training plan and running advice were among the best available in the pre-internet age.

Jeff was also pivotal in helping to build the specialty running shoe business. Phidippides was the first specialty running stores in Atlanta. It was in business for over 50 years before closing recently.

But the biggest thing Jeff did was bring distance running to the masses. The 80s running boom would have never happened without people like Jeff being accessible to the average runner.

At 64 I’ve reached the run/walk point of exercise thanks to several meniscus and arthritis issues. At least I can still enjoy the effort. As an aside, my sons HS coach also ran the 72 trials 10k and finished in the top 10. He knew a lot of these guys. Will have to ask him about Jeff if I see him.

What degenerate would "Down" vote the condolences for Jeff? How about "replying" to this post and revealing who you are.

RIP Jeff Galloway, Thank you for your contribution to our amazing sport.

Met Jeff at his Pheidippides - Piedmont Store. Gracious guy. Went for a Starbucks and chatted for nearly two hours. Signed one of his books for my boss. Will be missed

They could be downvoting the fact that Jeff has died and he is no longer with us. I wouldn’t read too much into it. This has actually been a “classy” thread by this site’s standards, and Jeff seemed like a classy human being.

A stroke and brain bleeding. He'd had a heart attack five years ago.

Standard treatment blood thinners after what he had ,the heart attack. Yikes. Like I have said we are not promised tomorrow, If I can slow jog 6 again every morning I hope to make it to the next day.

I had a huge aversion to Galloway in my 20s. That's no longer the case, but I was trying to think back to why I felt so strongly about it. I think it was rooted in a couple of things. First, I probably saw it as an affront to being a "real" runner and that it was dumbing down the sport. I've greatly changed my perspective on this. I think the broader participation is a great plus and a subset of folks doing a jog/walk mix doesn't detract from the performances of those who are more "serious". The second annoyance stemmed from Jeff's claims that walking breaks were suitable for and would even benefit elite runners in a race. My hunch/sense is that as Jeff felt the pushback against run/walk, he responded in an understandable manner of doubling down on his position. Instead of run/walk being an approach to enable novices, beginners, and older folks to start or continue running, he reacted in stating it was really for everyone. In hindsight, I view my indignation about this at the time as much greater than warranted.

Particularly in getting older, I have a greater appreciation for his dedication and commitment to the sport. Reading the NYT article on him from the beginning of this year, I was really hoping to see him get that marathon completion. RIP Jeff.

Run Walk In Peace Jeff, Ill share some miles with you in the big sky

What a great guy! I grew up on a mountain and I remember when I started running at 13 on the brutally hilly roads near my house. I took walk breaks every half mile or so. That was before I'd ever heard of "Gallowalking." Now I look forward to Gallowalking my way through my 70s, when I get there, or as long as my body allows. For so many people, walk breaks, such a simple concept, are what allows them to break the walk barrier and do some running, and sometimes a great deal of running.

Met him at the Disney Marathon years ago. Run walk helped me early in my marathon career and allowed me to run walk 3 half marathons with my wife, who injured her knee running XC in high school. Ran my PR at his half marathon in December in 2019. Met Him again that year picking up my Bib at Phidipiddes. So kind and giving.

He ran through the tape.

Rest easy to mackdaddy Gallowalker! Every time I bounce back from a running break, I’m always gallowalking. It’s always made the transition seamless, and he deserves his praises. Thanks dude!!!

What made him die?

In 1966 Freshmen were ineligible to run Varsity. Wesleyan won the Little Three and finished =8th in the New Englands (tied with UConn, Burfoot & Galloway went 1,6, Rogers was 4th in the Freshmen race). Burfoot was 2nd in the NCAA College Division meet (no D3 then) and Galloway 16th.