For most runners, finishing a marathon is an achievement to be celebrated. For 63-year-old Stuart Galloway of Niagara, Ont., running a marathon in under three hours has been his benchmark of success—for five decades. With his next marathon goal set for 2030, Galloway is eyeing six decades of this extraordinary feat.
The road to success
Galloway’s running journey began in grade nine. “I was a decent runner in high school but no superstar,” he says. After immigrating to Canada from Scotland as a child, Galloway’s family settled in the Niagara region, where he has remained—he retired in 2010 after a 30-year career as a millwright. Over the years, he has collected an impressive array of accolades, including victories in the Niagara Falls International Marathon, and the Harrisburg Marathon, where he clocked his personal best of 2:31:35. In 1994, Galloway was the top Canadian finisher at the Detroit Marathon.
While his fastest marathons were in his 30s, he began to capture more titles in his masters years. “Once I reached the masters age group, I had a lot more success,” says Galloway, who won a world 1,500m title in 2016 and has set nine Canadian age-group records at distances ranging from 1,500m to 10 miles. He regularly competes in 5K races in both Niagara and Buffalo, N.Y..
Coaching future stars, running with family stars
Galloway has coached with local clubs over the years, including the Niagara Olympic Club, where he worked with Canadian Olympian Moh Ahmed during Ahmed’s high school years. Running is also a family affair—Galloway recently enjoyed running alongside his grandson, Jackson Mead, who he proudly admits is now faster than him—and Galloway’s daughters have also joined him for races.
The secrets to longevity
Galloway credits his marathon consistency to smart training and adaptability. “Speedwork is always important—you can’t race fast unless you train fast,” he says. He emphasizes the importance of soft surfaces and treadmill running to reduce wear and tear, as well as the cushioning benefits of modern super shoes.
Galloway’s training has evolved with age, from running 95–110 km per week during marathon prep to a steadier 50–60 km per week. While he now favors shorter races like 5Ks, his passion for marathons remains. “I like the challenge of the marathon and the training required to run one successfully,” he says. He now spaces his marathons out every five years, and is still maintaining a pace most runners would be envious of, with his most recent effort, at the Guthrie Wine Glass Marathon, in Corning N.Y., well under three hours at 2:52:35.
Looking ahead
Galloway’s next marathon is planned for 2030, where he hopes to extend his sub-three streak into a sixth decade. In the meantime, his focus is on the track, aiming for Canadian age-group records in the 65–69 category by 2026. ” I’d like to run well into my 70s if possible,” Galloway says. If history is any guide, he’s more than capable of turning that goal into another milestone.
