Jo and Michael Wholohan.

MICHAEL Wholohan (Glenbrook) has just completed his 100th marathon, completing the ton at Newcastle on Easter Saturday.

His 100th marathon is the culmination of 18 years of marathon running, which began in Canberra in 2007 and has subsequently taken him all around the world, but may not have been the final chapter, as there are more events ahead on Michael’s marathon calendar.

The current plan includes running in Caen (Normandy, France) in June, and the Melbourne Marathon in October (running for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation), but much will depend upon his recovery from the recent Newcastle event.

There are currently seven Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) conducted globally and Michael has competed in them all, being Berlin (2019), Boston (2023), Chicago (2018), London (2018), New York (2007), Sydney (12 times) and Tokyo (2019).

However, whilst having competed 12 times in the Sydney Marathon, those runs were conducted prior to the event being given official WWM status. It’s status on the WWM list will become official this year and Michael intends to compete, in order to officially complete the seven Majors on what will be his ‘lucky 13th’ run in Sydney.

There may soon be additional races added to the Abbott WWM rankings, with both Cape Town (South Africa) and Shanghai (China) applying to be accredited – both decisions are still pending.

“It either of them gets accepted, I’ll have to go,” Michael said.

Born in Penrith, the Jamison High School Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) teacher is a Penrith legend, attending Penrith PS, Penrith HS and Wollongong University.

He took up cricket at 5 years of age, entered Grade cricket at 13, and over the next 26 years moved through to first grade with the Penrith Cricket Club (PCC), playing his last game at the age of 39.

Having begun his coaching career in the 1996/97 season whilst still playing, Michael found the dual roles of player and coach required too heavy a workload, encouraging his retirement as a player to concentrate fully as a coach.

He was appointed Club Coach at Penrith in 2003 and eventually retired from that role in 2021. He subsequently moved to Hawkesbury, joining his son Jake at the club, and coached there for 1 year, before moving on to Fairfield / Liverpool CC in the 22/23 season.

Along the way, Michael also played over 200 games of Rugby Union for the Penrith Emus and was with the Club when it won promotion to First Division in 1995. He was selected in the Colts team in 1984 and played through to 2001, as a lightweight hooker.

Michael looks back on his 17 years at the Emus with pleasure, having seen future Waratahs and Wallabies players come through the ranks.

He also still coaches the sport at school and coached the NSW CHS team from 2004-2009, recalling many fantastic victories, particularly against Combined Independent Schools (CIS). He recalls NRL players Damien Cook (St George – Illawarra Dragons) and Tyson Frizell (Newcastle Knights) among the players who came through the CHS system whilst Michael was at the helm.

Michael was bitten by the marathon bug in Canberra in 2007, succumbing to the new sport and not only running for pleasure but also fund-raising for charities, including the Mark Hughes Foundation. He estimates he has raised in excess of $50,000 for charities during his marathon career.

His best time is 3 hours, 41 minutes, which he feels may remain as his best. He has also competed at times in multiple marathons, in a single year, including an arduous 3 marathons in 3 weeks in 2024, being Manchester (UK), the Shakespeare Marathon (at Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK) and Madrid (Spain).

Michael’s combined work and sport resume is impressive, including: Level 3 Coach Cricket Australia; Bachelor Physical Education Wollongong University 1988; Head coach Penrith CC 2003 -21; NSW Premier Cricket Coach of the Year 2008/09; Member NSW Coaching Panel for 10 years; Coaching Director John Emburey Coaching School (England) 1989 -91; Sydney Grade cricket playing career from 1979/80 through to 2004/2005.

Michael is married to wife Jo (29 years), who is also his personal yet unofficial Physiotherapist, and has two children, Jake and Emma.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this long and impressive journey is that Michael was told by an Orthopaedic Surgeon in 2007 ‘his running days were over’.

Rather than take that advice, Michael spent the next 18 years proving the advice was premature and there were thousands of kilometres just waiting to be completed.