runDisney Spotlight: Meet Jeff Galloway

Making every mile a magical one, one training program at a time! When it comes to preparing for a runDisney race, many of our seasoned runners know Jeff Galloway, Olympian and official runDisney training expert. His Run Walk Run® method is credited for getting millions of people to accomplish their goals and cross the finish line. But how well do you really know him? Today we are spotlighting the man behind the training programs, his tips for runners and so much more.

Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina (and now residing in Atlanta, Georgia), Jeff’s interest in running all started when he was a teenager… one that hated exercise and was forced into sports through his school. After a few cross-country workouts, he soon fell in love with the feeling of empowerment that came with running and the relationships the sport provided.

After 14 years of hard, Jeff found himself a world-class athlete, competing as a member of the 1972 Olympic Team in Munich, Germany. Just one short year later, he broke the U.S. 10-mile record. His extraordinary professional running career highlights also include winning the inaugural Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta, winning the Atlanta and Honolulu Marathons, and a 5th place finish in the Boston Marathon.

Following the Olympics, Jeff pursued helping others get into running through his Run Walk Run® method which is designed to enjoy the life changing benefits of running while staying injury-free. In 1984, Jeff authored “Galloway’s Book on Running,” now a best-seller amongst running training books. Since then, he has authored 32 other books and is an inspirational speaker, sharing his running wisdom at hundreds of engagements each year. He says, "It is my mission to help others avoid the aches and pains while experiencing the feelings of accomplishment and pride that running can provide."

As the official training consultant for runDisney, you can find all his simple yet effective programs on runDisney.com. You can also run with the Galloway Pacers during your next runDisney event and can usually find Jeff out on the race course, both running and cheering on participants each runDisney race weekend!