Short Uphill Stride Helped Me Run My Fastest Marathon…at Age 35

The 1980 Houston-Tenneco course had several significant rolling sections, and this worried me. I had strained my hamstring eight weeks before the race and had to lay off from fast running. As the time closed in on the marathon date, I discovered that the only speed sessions I could do were full mile repeats with a shortened stride. While the injury was not fully healed, I picked up the turnover and jokingly told myself that I was the fastest “short strider” in the U.S.!

The hills resistance gave me the quality of speed play needed to run a high-performance marathon. The stride reduction released the tension on the hamstring and allowed it to continue healing. Not only did I recover while doing quality work, I passed two dozen competitors while going up hills in the race itself. They  were huffing and puffing, and I was zooming by at my normal respiration rate. I ran strong to the finish in a lifetime best of 2:16

Learn more about hill play in Jeff’s book  Jeff Galloway Training Programs. You will find the book at: https://shop.phidippides.com/collections/books-dvds

Jeff Galloway smiling near a lake with city skyline in the distance.
Jeff Galloway

Jeff Galloway, US Olympian and creator of the Run-Walk-Run method, has helped over 350,000 runners achieve their goals through his innovative training programs. As Runner's World's monthly columnist and author of North America's best-selling running book, Jeff has spent over 50 years sharing his expertise and continues to conduct running seminars worldwide as runDisney's Official Training Consultant.

Jeff Galloway Coaching

Coaching Support and Training

Jeff’s proven training method has helped hundreds of thousands to achieve their goals and stay injury-free. Over 98% of his participants have finished marathons, and similar success rates have been achieved at other distances. Our programs help you reach the finish line for your personal goal/race.

  • Based on your current conditioning
  • improve Your efficiency and speed
  • For All Levels, Including Beginners
  • Achieve Progress While Having a Life
See Coaching Options

Run Smarter, Not Harder:

Join Jeff’s Inner Circle

Get exclusive running tips, training plans, and motivation straight from Jeff Galloway to your inbox. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned runner, our newsletter will help you achieve your running goals with less effort and zero injuries.