Sydney Swans icon Lance 'Buddy' Franklin has unveiled a remarkably leaner physique after transitioning to long-distance running following his AFL career. At 38, Franklin participated in the Mother's Day Classic on Sunday, joining thousands of Australians in walking or running distances from 4km to 21.1km to raise funds for breast and ovarian cancer research.
In a stark departure from his previously muscular build, Franklin appeared noticeably slimmer as he dedicated himself to marathon training. The AFL legend completed the half-marathon at the Melbourne edition of the event, which attracted a large field of competitors.
This appearance follows his transformation aimed at tackling the New York Marathon. Franklin has openly shared his journey into long-distance running, making his diet and training regimen public.
Franklin, one of the AFL's greatest players, first expressed interest in long-distance events last year. The father of three joined NRL legend Johnathan Thurston in a gruelling endurance run to qualify for the New York Marathon. Both are members of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) and began training together for the not-for-profit organisation in July of the previous year.
That month saw the duo compete in the Gold Coast Half Marathon alongside thousands of others. In September, they completed a 30km selection trial in Alice Springs with other IMF members. They also finished the Sunshine Coast Half Marathon, with Franklin improving his time.
'I'm reasonably happy with that,' Franklin said after the Sunshine Coast event. 'Obviously to do a marathon or half-marathon at any stage of your life is pretty difficult. I've been putting a lot of time and effort into it, spending a lot of time running now that I've finished football.'
Franklin's ultimate test came at the New York Marathon, where he finished in 3 hours, 49 minutes, and 2 seconds, just under six minutes behind Thurston. The pair aim to raise $1 million for the IMF, a charity that uses running to empower First Nations communities.
