Short stride - is there such a thing?

Every online dictionary tells me that a 'stride' is a 'long step'. (Or a 'long decisive step', 'long confident step' etc.)

And yet, a search for 'short strides' produces thousands of results.

Even something as specific as 'short, measured strides' is present in several literary texts (as per relevant Google search); a David Baldacci book has 'short, halting strides'.

Is it wrong usage, or does 'stride' have a more general meaning than what dictionaries suggest?

Stride refers to a step. The connotation of a long one comes from the origin of the term (see below) but it may refer to an "ordinary" step.

• "a step in walking," especially a long one, from Old English stride "a stride, a step."

  The sense connection in the various Germanic forms is perhaps "strive, make a strong effort;" the senses having to do with walking and standing are found only in English and Low German.

Meaning "to walk with long or extended steps" is from c. 1200. The notion behind the English usage might be the effort involved in making long strides, striving forward.

(Etymonline)