Jeff Galloway, Who Inspired Millions With Run-Walk-Run, Dies at 80 Ahead of Princess Half Marathon Weekend
jeff galloway, the 1972 U. S. Olympic team member who popularized the run-walk-run strategy and encouraged countless people to take up running, died Wednesday at age 80. His death followed a hemorrhagic stroke and emergency neurosurgery; he died at a hospital in Pensacola, Florida, the family said. The timing of his passing drew an outpouring of tributes just days before the Princess Half Marathon Weekend, an event he often attended.
Jeff Galloway's health, surgery and final days
Galloway suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and underwent emergency neurosurgery. The family announced the surgery on Feb. 20 and invited the public to express support. In the wake of the operation, throngs of people posted videos and messages online hoping for his recovery and thanking him for the guidance that had helped them reach race starting lines. Daughter-in-law Carissa Galloway said he died at a Pensacola hospital.
Olympic background and competitive highlights
Galloway was a member of the 1972 U. S. Olympic team and had competed in the 10, 000 meters at the Olympics two years before he began teaching the run-walk-run approach. He remained an active racer across decades, once giving a double thumbs up as he headed to the finish line at the 50th AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4, 2019, in Atlanta. He logged more than 230 marathons in his lifetime and survived heart failure in 2021 while still expressing the desire to complete another marathon.
How the run-walk-run method began and evolved
Galloway developed his run-walk-run strategy in 1974 when he taught a running class at Florida State University, shortly after his Olympic appearance. He conceived the class in part to attract customers to Phidippides, his new running store. He started groups that were largely inactive for years, building sessions around walking interspersed with short jogs and fine-tuning the ratio of running to walking so no one was huffing and puffing. That approach kept groups together and, in his telling, allowed participants to finish 5K and 10K events smiling.
Jeff Galloway's race experiment and training work
Galloway believed walk breaks reduced injury risk, conserved energy and preserved confidence. One notable experiment came at the Houston Marathon in 1980: he walked through every water station and finished in 2: 16: 35, a faster time than his previous run-only marathon performances. He shared training guidance through books, websites and retreats, and served as the official training consultant for the runDisney series of resort races, often running alongside participants.
Tributes, family statements and connections to the Princess Half Marathon Weekend
The timing of Galloway's death—just days before the Princess Half Marathon Weekend, which he frequently attended—prompted specific mentions from those tied to the event. Carissa Galloway, who co-emcees the weekend, released a message on social media expressing heartbreak and gratitude. She said it felt like there was never enough time to learn from him or to watch how he loved, listened and saw the best in people. She recalled how he would hug each family member before leaving, look in their eyes and tell them he was proud of them, and she closed by saying she was proud of him and loved him deeply.
Enduring influence and perspective from peers
Fellow figures in the endurance community emphasized Galloway's role in making running accessible. Jim Vance, an elite endurance sports consultant in San Diego, called Galloway a pioneer who removed the mental barrier to entry for runners, arguing that running should be peaceful and enjoyable rather than a suffer-fest. In December, Galloway said his mission at age 80-plus was to show that people can safely do things not normally done—an aim that shaped his decades of coaching and public outreach.
As tributes and reflections continue, many in the running community have pointed to the simple, practical tools Galloway taught as the key to expanding participation and helping runners of all levels reach finish lines with confidence.
