Johnathan Thurston and Lance "Buddy" Franklin joined an Indigenous squad for a 30km run. Photo: PR IMAGE PHOTO

The sun is rising in Alice Springs and a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait runners are pushing through a gruelling 30-kilometre race.

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Among them two retired athletes trying their hand at something different.

Johnathan Thurston and Lance "Buddy" Franklin may have excelled on their respective NRL and AFL fields, but now the pair face a whole new challenge - training for a marathon.

And their eyes aren't set on just any marathon, but one of the world's most renowned race

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