Jeff Galloway

John Franks "Jeff" Galloway (July 12, 1945 – February 25, 2026) was an American Olympian and the author of Galloway's Book on Running.

A lifetime runner, Galloway was an All-American collegiate athlete and a 1972 US Olympic Team member in the 10,000 meters. He remained a competitive athlete, continuing through a successful masters running career. He was the chief executive officer of Galloway Productions, which conducts a broad range of training programs and events yearly; he also owned two running specialty stores. He penned several books on training and wrote a monthly column for Runner's World magazine.

Early life and collegiate career John Franks Galloway was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on July 12, 1945, to Elliott and Kitty Galloway. They settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where his parents founded The Galloway School. His parents both became runners. In high school, at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Galloway recorded bests of 4:28 in the mile and 9:48 in the two-mile; he became the state champion in the latter event.

Running for Wesleyan University, he developed as a competitor, earning All-American honors in cross-country and track, clocking 4:12 in the mile, and noted times of 9:06 in the two-mile and 14:10 for three.

Olympian Galloway and his Florida Track Club teammates, Shorter and Bacheler, made the 1972 U.S. Olympic team, Galloway in the 10K, Bacheler in the marathon, and Shorter in both events. The three spent two months in the mountains near Vail, Colorado, conditioning themselves for the Olympics. According to noted runner and journalist, Joe Henderson, Galloway "should have been an Olympic marathoner", but is sometimes said to have given up his shot at a spot in the longer event to help his friend, Bacheler, to make the 1972 team. Bacheler had narrowly missed out qualifying in the 10,000m trials a week earlier. Galloway was an alternate for the marathon.

Other running accolades In 1973, Galloway set an American ten-mile road race record, posting a time of 47:49.

In 1978, Galloway co-founded the Avon International Women's Marathon, helping to bring the advent of the women's Olympic marathon. He was also co-director of the Manufacturers Hanover Corporate Challenge.

Other work In 1973, Galloway founded Phidippides, which developed into a nationwide franchise network of 35 running stores. The chain dwindled, and as of 2006, Galloway owned only two Phidippides stores in the Atlanta area. There are currently zero Phidippides running stores operating under its original management in Atlanta, as the brand permanently closed its final two locations on December 31, 2024.

In 1975, Galloway ventured into the vacation fitness camp business, and as of 2006, there are three in operation each summer in Colorado, British Columbia, and Olympic Valley, California. Coaches and lecturers have included Runner's World founder, Bob Anderson, Covert Bailey, Joe Henderson, Harry Hlavac, DPM, MEd, Joan Ullyot, MD and the late New Zealand Olympic track coach, Arthur Lydiard. In addition to vacation fitness camps, Galloway Productions conducts fitness seminars and marathon training groups across the United States. Runners and coaches around the globe have used his unique training approach.

Galloway developed the idea of the "Magic Mile", a way to calculate a marathon or half-marathon time using a person's 1-mile time. His endurance training regime, involving alternating periods of running and walking, is known variously as Jeffing, Gallowalking and the Galloway method.

Advice on running and life Galloway advised using positive self-talk for running and for life's challenges. He focused on the words 'relax', 'power', and 'glide' at strategic points during races.

Achievements All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise

Books Galloway, Jeff, Galloway's Book on Running, (1984), Galloway, Jeff, Return of the Tribes to Peachtree Street, (1995), Galloway Productions, Galloway, Jeff (and Joe Henderson) Better Runs (1995) Human Kinetics Publishers; 1 edition, Galloway, Jeff, Marathon!, (1996), Phidippides Production, Galloway, Jeff, Marathon: You Can Do It! , (2001), Shelter Publications, Galloway, Jeff, Galloway's Book on Running (revised), 2nd edition, Shelter Publications, Galloway, Jeff, Running: A Year Round Plan, (2005) Meyer & Meyer Fachverlag und Buchhandel GmbH, Galloway, Jeff, Running: Getting Started, Meyer & Meyer Fachverlag und Buchhandel GmbH, (2005) Galloway, Jeff, Running: Testing Yourself, Meyer & Meyer Fachverlag und Buchhandel GmbH, (2005) Galloway, Jeff, Walking: the Complete Book, Meyer & Meyer Fachverlag und Buchhandel GmbH, (2005) Galloway, Jeff, Mental Training For Runners - No More Excuses!, Maidenhead: Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd., (2016)