Global running icon and longtime Atlantan Jeff Galloway died Feb. 25 at age 80 after complications from a stroke.
Read: Jeff Galloway, influential running coach, dies at 80
Galloway won the inaugural Peachtree Road Race, which he helped create, and later opened Phidippides, one of America’s first specialty running stores, in the city. His books on running, organizing races, and instruction are credited with evolving the running movement in America.
Rough Draft asked readers to submit their memories of Galloway and to reflect on his impact on the local running community. A sample of those responses is below.
‘I’m not sure I would have had the confidence’
I knew very little about running specialty retail. He took the time to sit down with me on multiple occasions and share what he’d learned. He even welcomed me into his stores to work and learn from his amazing team. [Jeff] did all of this even though he was fully aware that I planned to open my own store in another part of the city and would eventually be a competitor.
Just last week, I was asked what my ‘lucky break’ had been in the running business. Without hesitation, I said Jeff Galloway. Without his openness and encouragement, I’m not sure I would have had the confidence to open West Stride.
Genie Beaver, Owner, West Stride
‘Jeff made a difference in so many lives’
Jeff was one of my first clients when I started my business. I did PR for the Manufacturers Hanover Atlanta Corporate Challenge 5K (affectionately known as the “Manny Hanny”), which was a really fun downtown road race specifically for companies. It was on a Wednesday night, and the companies had big tents in the Braves’ parking lot and drew participants of all kinds of running abilities.
Looking back, I can see Jeff’s imprint all over it: fun, all-inclusive, challenging, healthy. I went on to work with him on different events and remember seeing him at the first Disney Marathon.
Jeff made a difference in so many lives, including mine.
Melissa Libby, PR Executive
‘I still enjoy running and owe it to Jeff’
I ran five half marathons, all using Galloway’s run/walk approach. The thought of running 13.1 miles was overwhelming, but running until my next walk break made it manageable for me. At one point, I was having a problem during one of my trainings and reached out directly to Jeff seeking guidance. He got back to me immediately, helping me resolve my issue. I don’t do long distance anymore, but I still enjoy running and owe it to Jeff for teaching us how even ‘non-runners’ could become runners.
Lauri Strauss, Media Executive
‘Thank you for the lifetime of service’
In the years and decades ahead, Jeff Galloway will likely, appropriately and enthusiastically, be most remembered and celebrated for his groundbreaking and tireless efforts to make a lifetime of long-distance running more achievable and running-related targets more attainable.
I believe it is unlikely there will ever be another person who has a greater impact on the growth or democratization of our sport. His books, media, camps, and training programs leave a legacy, as future generations will continue to benefit from his timeless encouragement and transformational instruction.
At the same time, let us also remember his bold, determined spirit as a retailer and hospitality professional. With Phidippides, he pioneered the Run-Walk Specialty channel, now solidly more than 1,000+ retailers in the US and around the world. The premise of Jeff’s initial efforts in his stores still serves as a cornerstone of this business and a position of strength for this format in the sporting goods industry.
To state it plainly, Big Peach Running Co. (and every retailer like us anywhere) owes Jeff an enormous debt of gratitude for our existence and our potential. Jeff, thank you for the lifetime of service, the enduring example of leadership and the pathway you’ve proven for every participant in our sport and every professional in our industry.
Consistent with the oft-quoted scripture found at the marathon Finish lines you knew so well, you, ‘Dear Sir, fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith!’
Mike Cosentino, Chief Running Officer, Big Peach Running Co.
‘Jeff taught us our goal was to finish strong, not fast’
In 1998, just shy of 40, I had been running a while. I wanted to improve my 10k time to garner Peachtree Road Race seeding. I found out about Jeff’s running group/training at the Ansley Mall Phidippides. Joining Jeff and hundred of runners at Chastain Park/Westminster, I began regular weekly runs with one of many Jeff’d training groups.
Running a marathon was not in my plans, but my fellow runners were all about their first or next marathon. Soon, I caught the bug; with Jeff’s run-walk method and group runs of increasing length, it felt possible. I met a lot of great people, ran 5 marathons from 1998 to 2000, and sorted out some big life concerns on my solo training runs between weekend group runs. My sorest muscles from my first – San Francisco – were from smiling for 52 minutes. Jeff taught us that our goal was to finish strong, not fast. And, I got a good enough time at an officially recognized 10k to be seeded for a better Peachtree starting position. My last race was Jeff’s Dec 2015 half-marathon.
Jennifer
‘We all finished thanks to Jeff’
Remember when Jeff came to the downtown Jewish Community Center many years ago to train a group of runners for our first Marathon in Calloway Gardens. We all finished thanks to Jeff. Great guy who helped pioneer the Atlanta running community.
Allen Soden, Retired Sales Executive
‘I will think of Jeff next weekend when I run a half-marathon’
Sad day in the running world. So much of my life was shaped by Jeff Galloway. I worked for Jeff from 1994-1996. I ran 32 marathons because of his training method. My first marathon was the Atlanta marathon in 1995 and I still worked for him. He was nervous that I wouldn’t do the run/walk method so he met me at the start and ran the first 8 miles with me and then turned around and wished me luck and went back to meet his family at the finish line. That was so Jeff.
During my time working for him, I worked on the Office Depot Corporate Cup series and got to travel the US with him. My favorite memory was when Jeff took us to Nike headquarters and showed me his plaque on the wall, and shared so many stories. I moved back to New York in 1997 and started the NYC chapter of the Jeff Galloway Training, where I met lifelong friends. I will cherish these memories. I will think of Jeff next weekend when I run a half-marathon, which i haven’t runin a long time, and will call on his guidance once again. Thinking of Jeff’s family and all the early Galloway friends who worked with him.
Maureen Kelly
‘His national impact is much larger’
Jeff’s impact on the Atlanta running market began in the late 70’s with his Phidippides stores, and continued with Kaiser Permanente Corporate Challenge and Galloway 26.2. His national impact is much larger – from his books on running and making “running” a marathon a bucket list item that the average runner could accomplish. [His work] definitely led to the huge growth of marathon races throughout the nation.
Skip Breeser, Road Race Producer
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