Short stride - is there such a thing?

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)