He played State of Origin busted and knocked out a former heavyweight world boxing champion, but Paul Gallen is determined not to let this month’s Sydney Marathon be the thing that finally takes him out.
The Sharks and New South Wales legend openly admits “I’m no runner”, but is taking on the punishing 42.2km course through Sydney’s CBD on August 30 as his next challenge.
And – nearly 10 years to the day since they teamed up to win Cronulla’s drought-breaking NRL premiership – Gallen will be joined on the start line by Michael Ennis.
“He can run – he loves it,” Gallen said of Ennis, who has been regularly clocking up 30km training runs around Cronulla.
“Mick’s a really good runner, one of the fittest blokes I ever played with.
“He always led the training sessions, so I imagine he’ll do a good time.”
Gallen entered the Sydney Marathon months ago, with Ennis deciding to join in after they met to start planning a year 10-year premiership anniversary get together with Shane Flanagan.
Training hasn’t been going as smoothly for Gallen though.
The 44-year-old hit the pavement in June for the 150km Big Three Trek to raise money for the Mark Hughes Foundation, but the long distance took its toll.
“It was so rewarding, I loved it, it was an awesome experience and the people were amazing,” Gallen said. “But it wrecked me.
“I couldn’t run for weeks, so it probably set me back a month.”
With two weeks until race day, Gallen is finally stacking up the training miles again.
“I was running on Monday around our area and the wind was horrible, it was so windy – the worst I’ve experienced,” Gallen said. “Mick drove past and saw me at one stage during my run.
“He text me later saying, ‘If you weren’t so fat that wind would’ve blown you all the way to Kurnell!’
“Josh Morris drove past and beeped at me as well.
“It’s hard, I’m not a runner, mate, it’s not my sport.
“I just want to finish, and I know I’ll finish it. I’ll be mentally strong enough to get there.”
A decade after hanging up the footy boots, Ennis has a simple reason for wanting to take on the Sydney Marathon.
“I’ve got four kids, and I love just showing them that dad’s willing to have a go, and what can happen when you commit to something and put everything into it and stick at it,” he told Code Sports. “Sport has always been a big part of my life, and when you stop playing, you have to find different ways to stimulate yourself.
“You have to find new challenges and things that get you out of your comfort zone.”
Gallen and Ennis will be joined by a who’s who of Aussie sporting stars, including Ash Barty and the country’s most successful ever Olympian, swimmer Emma McKeon.
Having played NRL and Origin alongside Gallen, Ennis knows how tough his mate is, and has no doubt he’ll cross the finish line in front of the Sydney Opera House.
“I’ve got enormous respect for Gal, he’s a great friend of mine, and he was so reliable,” Ennis said. “The bigger the challenge, the better he performed.
“Watching his boxing journey, I remember he broke a rib in a fight, and as a mate, it was hard to see. It was shades of Rocky the way he hung in there.
“And that’s what’s coming in this marathon.
“But his mental resilience is unbelievable. He’ll be at the finish line, and I’m looking forward to sharing that experience with him.”
Originally published as Paul Gallen and Michael Ennis to run Sydney Marathon, 10 years after Sharks premiership win