Sports icons Lance Franklin and Johnathan Thurston have booked their tickets to the US for November's New York City Marathon after their latest challenge with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.
The foundation ambassadors completed the testing 30 kilometre selection run in Mpartnwe (Alice Springs) on Wednesday.
Buddy and JT joined as two of 12 IMF squad members for 2025. In a couple of months they'll push to add to the 156 graduates to run a global marathon with the project.
IMF does more than clock up the kilometres. The foundation delivers a number of health and positive impact programs into Indigenous communities while working to create leaders and have a 'ripple effect'.
"It was a special, special run, really, to be on country here in Alice Springs," Franklin said on Wednesday.
"Fingers crossed everyone gets through and we're able to get everyone on the plane to New York."
The squad have completed training middle distance and half marathons through the year on route to the global major in New York, many running seriously for the first time.
"It's been a big process to get to this point where you feel fit enough to and confident enough to know that you can do it…I take a lot of satisfaction out of what I've been able to achieve so far to get to this point," Franklin said.
The AFL great said running has become a new addition to his daily routine, and won't be something he gives away going forward.
"This foundation is incredible," Franklin said.
"To be a part of this program and see how much it's grown and continues to grow. And the work we're doing within the communities is pretty special.
"We're teaching these guys to be leaders within their community, so then they can go back and teach them about leadership, living healthy lifestyles within their community…That's why JT and I are involved. We feel very blessed to be a part of this program, and we can't wait to get to New York and get it done."
Thurston said he was "cooked" after Wednesday's run.
He'd previously hit a 25 kilometre personal record.
The squad set off in Alice at 5am.
"Running 30 kilometres is hard. It's tough, but I'm extremely proud of the whole squad. They're certainly going to create some social change communities," Thurston said.
Ellie White and Jed Bell also crossed the finish line on Wednesday.
"It's been incredible, so empowering and inspiring being with such an amazing group of young black leaders and all the other grads that we've been able to connect with throughout the year," White said.
"It's so inspiring to follow in their footsteps of all the people that have come before and represent our communities and mobs and hopefully do them proud.
"I never really planned to run a marathon, but here we are."
White added she's looking ahead to representing IMF "on a global scale".
Prior to joining the squad, most of Bell's running came through his own footy.
He's most looking forward to seeing his squad complete the 42 kilometres, as a collective, in the US.
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IMF started as the Indigenous Marathon Project, founded by former world champion Rob Castella.
When Charlie Maher crossed the finish line in New York 15 years ago, he became the first known Indigenous person to complete a world major.
He was later followed by three other history makers on the day.
"The Indigenous Marathon Foundation has two goals. One is to inspire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to believe that they can achieve everything and anything. The other is to demonstrate to non-Indigenous Australians that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders can and will achieve incredible things," Castella said.
"It's about using running to promote health, but also to strengthen resilience and character. It's about demonstrating how hard work, sweat and effort produces results.
Castella later added: "Follow us, support us. Donate. Help us use running to make a difference, to bring change."
IMF, Franklin and Thurston are calling on Australians to get behind the foundation's 'Make Your Mark' campaign to support their initiatives in communities.
