From one Jeff to the AJC Peachtree Road Race organizers: Invite Jeff Galloway to the next one

The 55th AJC Peachtree Road Race this week has added another storied chapter of running greatness to a remarkable history. 

Despite searing heat, approximately 50,000  took part in the world’s largest 10K race; with generations celebrating the 4th of July and life in this bustling metro area. It seemed everyone was there.

“Not me, I wasn’t invited or asked to be there," said Jeff Galloway, the 1972 Olympian, former czar of the Atlanta Track Club, coach, author, motivational speaker and Atlanta running store owner. (One of the nation's first running stores, in 1975).

"No entry.”

I responded: “Not invited? How are you not in Atlanta for the road race? Why aren’t you invited?”

Galloway paused, and sighed from his home near Destin, Florida: “I’m not going to talk about it. We live 60% of the time in Florida and about 40% in Atlanta.” 

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Galloway is one of those Atlantans that changed things. His impact is beyond measure, among the most influential sporting stars ever here, going back to the 1970’s. 

It is not possible to think of the AJC Peachtree Road Race without the fabled Galloway. 

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The Atlanta native was the winner of the inaugural event in 1970, that began in Sears' Buckhead parking lot. 

Four years ago, then-75-year-old Galloway suffered a massive heart attack. His heart stopped, emergency surgery performed at Piedmont Hospital - five stents and a pacemaker defibrillator implanted in his chest. 

“There was a lot of damage done [by the heart attack], but I’m back running, even doing half marathons,” the Westminster High School alum told me, “All of this has given me the ability to help reach out, to coach a range of people with physical challenges.”

Galloway has other health challenges too. Cancer. He has been declared a Disabled Veteran by the VA for his time in Vietnam (1968-1969), aboard a ship, exposed to Agent Orange through drinking water. 

“I’m not traveling as much as I used to, but [I'm] still deeply involved with Run Disney,” he said with enthusiasm. “I was stationed at a booth there in central Florida and had 4,000 people tell me how I had changed their lives with running.”

Galloway is one of those Atlantans that changed things. His impact is beyond measure, among the most influential sporting stars ever here, going back to the 1970’s. 

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It is Galloway who helped turn the Peachtree into a compass point of southern culture. It was his idea and influence that brought world class athletes to Peachtree - Bill Rogers, Frank Shorter and Lasse Viren - creating international recognition of the Peachtree Road Race; with entries escalating from 1,200 to 12,000 participants by 1980. 

Galloway is the founder of the 1974 Run-Walk-Run method revolutionizing training for so many runners around the world. 

“It’s gratifying to see and the hear the stories (of the benefits of running),” he told me. 

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“He was a comet across the horizon. Nike's third employee, So many gifts," Jeff Galloway said of Steve Prefontaine.

I’m always fascinated by the Galloway stories of friendship and training with the mythical 20th century track and field star, the late Steve Prefontaine.

“He was a comet across the horizon. Nike's third employee, So many gifts," he recalled.

Prefontaine was killed in 1975, driving his gold MGB convertible on the west coast. ("He was just beginning. We were doing neat things.")

Running with Prefontaine is akin to playing guitar with Hendrix or Prince; or singing with Jim Morrison and the Doors. 

Jeff Galloway has led an extraordinary life and we are all grateful in Atlanta for his work and talent. 

Next July 4th, let’s hope we see him for the 56th running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race.

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Running with Steve Prefontaine is akin to playing guitar with Hendrix or Prince; or singing with Jim Morrison and the Doors.