Buddy Franklin makes a shock sporting comeback in one of Australia's toughest events alongside another footy legend
The former Swans forward, 38, and Cowboys playmaker, 42, competed in the Gold Coast Marathon on Saturday with thousands of other runners.
The pair are part of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) and are planning to run the iconic New York City Marathon later this year.
They are hoping to raise $1million for the IMF, which supports programs that use running to drive physical and mental wellbeing, leadership, and resilience in First Nations communities.
Franklin, who retired in 2023, took to Instagram following the race to post a shot of himself and Thurston holding up the Aboriginal flag.
'Bring on NY,' he wrote.
Thurston said that the final stretch of the race was particularly difficult.
'There were some voices in the head in the last 3km, the body's aching - it's tough but very enjoyable,' he told News Corp.
'The knees, hamstrings, the lower back aching, the voices going just stop, but you look around and see the people running beside you, people in the street cheering you on.
'We've all got a purpose here with the Indigenous Marathon Project, so thinking about my family and the other squad members.'
Franklin is excited by the challenge of running later this year in New York.
'I've done a lot of work for this, obviously playing football for 19 years and then retiring, I think it's really been great for me,' he said.
'It's been really structured and I've set aside a few hours every day to make sure I'm fit enough to get through.
'Literally every six to seven weeks there's a progression which is really good … I think with all the other guys and women doing it with the foundation it's going to be pretty cool to see the progression.'
The sports stars are still very competitive, but Franklin says Thurston is the better long-distance runner.
'We've been on the WhatsApp group together and he's been updating me, and I've been pretty impressed with his running,' he said.
'He'll have me covered, there's no doubt about that.'
Last month it was revealed that Franklin and his wife Jesinta are expecting their third child together.
In a candid video, Jesinta shared a silhouette of herself cradling her growing baby bump while her two children, daughter Tullulah, five, and son Rocky, four, played around her.
One segment showed Rocky kissing his mum's pregnant belly.
'Tullulah & Rocky are getting a baby brother or sister for Christmas. The most beautiful surprise of all,' the model captioned her post.
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