U.S. Olympian and coach Jeff Galloway dies at age 80

February 26, 2026

On Wednesday in Pensacola, Fla., Jeff Galloway, the Olympian and influential coach and author, died at age 80. His son, Westin Galloway, said the cause was complications from a stroke.

As a 1972 Olympian in the 10,000 metres and a former American record-holder at 10 miles, Galloway was also the founder of one of the first specialty running stores in the U.S. and author of more than 20 books. His name is synonymous with a training and racing method that made the sport more accessible to many—”Jeffing.”

In the mid-1970s, Galloway began urging runners to take planned walk breaks during races and long runs, pushing back against the idea that walking meant you were failing. The approach, later dubbed “Jeffing,” proved effective for a wide range of athletes. CANADIAN Running Magazine