Stroke goat, maybe, then run away (9)
I believe the answer is:
butterfly
'stroke' is the definition.
(type of swimming stroke)
'goat maybe then run away' is the wordplay.
'goat maybe' becomes 'butter' (animal that butts).
'then' says to put letters next to each other.
'run away' becomes 'fly' (I've seen this before).
'butter'+'fly'='BUTTERFLY'
(Other definitions for butterfly that I've seen before include "Insect; flighty person" , "Idea that a small change can have major consequences elsewhere" , "Lepidopterous insect" , "Peacock or red admiral, for example" , "noted geisha?" .)