I sit down with one of the true architects of modern running, Jeff Galloway. From making the 1972 Olympic team as an unexpected underdog to creating the RunWalkRun method used by millions of runners today, Jeff’s story is packed with history, perspective, and wisdom that still applies right now.
We talk about the emotional crash that can come after achieving a massive goal, something I relate to deeply after finishing the Appalachian Trail record, and how that post-Olympic low pushed Jeff to open one of the very first specialty running stores in the world, Phidippides. That store became the foundation for the running boom, community run clubs, and the coaching systems that followed.
Jeff breaks down how RunWalkRun was created, why taking walk breaks early actually makes runners faster, and how the data shows average improvements of around seven minutes in the half marathon and thirteen minutes in the marathon. We also dig into his Olympic era training, 140-mile weeks, mile repeats, long runs past marathon distance, and why most training principles today still mirror what worked fifty years ago.
We go deep on his friendship with Steve Prefontaine, the early fight for professionalism in the sport, the birth of the Peachtree Road Race, and how those moments shaped modern running as we know it. Jeff also shares his approach to mental training, mantras, step counting, and how meaning is the real fuel behind long term consistency.
To close it out, Jeff tells an incredible story about chasing a marathon in eight different decades of life at age eighty, coming back from a heart attack, a fractured toe, and weeks of forced rest to toe the line once again. This episode is equal parts history lesson, coaching clinic, and reminder of why running can be a lifelong pursuit.
Find Jeff's books and Jeff online: JeffGalloway.com
This episode is brought to you by Janji, Garage Grown Gear, and CS Coffee.
Chapters
00:00 The Olympic Journey: Triumphs and Challenges
03:41 From Athlete to Entrepreneur: The Birth of a Running Store
07:07 Navigating Life After Competition: Finding New Goals
10:57 Training Insights: The Evolution of Running Techniques
14:14 The Impact of Steve Prefontaine on Professional Running
26:30 Reflections on Running Culture and Trends
32:19 The Legacy of Pre and Athlete Rights
35:41 Building a Running Community
40:04 The Birth of the Galloway Method
48:49 RunWalkRun: A Game Changer
54:41 Mental Strategies for Endurance
57:20 The Eight Decade Challenge
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