This time around, he will finally tackle the course, as not only a participant but also an official event ambassador.

"It's because it is still in finals footy time and I often am working. But I've put the date aside this year to be able to do it," he said.

"It's always sort of clashed in the past but a lot of my friends have always been a part of it and always done it. It's almost become a tradition that they've always done with their friends or their family so it will be nice to be able to get involved and jump in myself."

While he no longer has the strict fitness regime he had when training with the Canberra Raiders, exercise still plays an integral part of Tongue's life in his work with high schools, juvenile justice, the NRL and also personal training.

"My program is mentoring through fitness, so I use activity to help get my messages across. So fitness and activity has been a part of all of my life and it continues to be now in the work that I do," he said.

"It's something that I've still been passionate about and just for my own health and wellbeing, I know that if I don't do some exercise myself every now and again I don't feel as upbeat and as happy and energetic."

With this year's Canberra Times Fun Run falling on Father's Day, the father of four is trying to get at least a couple of his kids involved.

"In the past I've always been working Father's Day so it'll be nice to do it and be active on the day as well," he said.

"I've got two older daughters that I've been trying to do a bit of running with to do the 5k all of us together. I know it's only the shorter distance there but it'll be nice to be able to do it with the kids and I suppose start that tradition. So we've been running around the countryside.

"My son, he's 5, he probably won't be far off doing it as well, which will be nice. He tracks alongside when we train."

The Canberra Times Fun Run is on Sunday, September 4. Registrations are open at canberratimesfunrun.com.au.