Press Release: Julian Karp – First African to Complete 1000 Marathons

Julian Karp is set to become the first African to complete 1000 marathons at this year’s Soweto Marathon on Saturday 29 November.

Julian ran his first marathon, Peninsula, in 1990 and averaged roughly six marathons a year until 2003 when, “The extension to a 12-hour cut-off at Comrades led to an explosion of new marathons on the running calendar and I decided to run as many as I could.” Excluding Covid-years, Julian has subsequently averaged over 45 marathons and ultras per year. In 2016 he set a South African record of 62 official marathons (50 standard and 12 ultra) in a calendar year.

This immense feat of endurance has meant that the 65-year-old regularly runs back-to-back marathons on Saturdays and Sundays travelling to every corner of the country. The Ottosdal Night Marathon on the last weekend of January provides the opportunity to run three marathons in just over 24 hours (Saturday morning, Saturday evening and Sunday morning) and Julian has achieved this incredible feat ten times.

There are about 71 people worldwide who claim 1000 marathon finishes or more. However, many of these do not provide full records of marathon finishes and apply the ‘Cavanagh count’ method where they include unofficial, self-recorded marathons in their numbers. Julian is unique in that he only counts official road marathons and ultras that are on the sanctioned ASA calendar. Although he has run several trail ultra marathons and helpers runs, he does not count these in his official numbers.

Why Soweto?

Julian ran his 999^th marathon at the Lemo Mall Marathon in Bloemfontein on 3 May 2025. He wanted to pick a marathon of special significance for his 1000^th. Julian expressed his deep feelings for the event, “I ran the first official Soweto Marathon in December 1993 and can still clearly recall the goosebumps when the white dove was set free as a symbol of peace. Since then I have completed 18 official and 2 helpers Soweto Marathons. I have spent most of my athletic journey living at the coast and the support I have received from the Soweto clubs at Gauteng marathons has been incredible.”

There has been some controversy in the build up to the 2025 Soweto Marathon with the date being moved to late November to accommodate the G20 summit and factional fighting for ownership of the event. Julian throws his weight firmly behind the Soweto Marathon NPC, “When the Soweto clubs decided to host the event, I felt it important to support them in their brave fight against the members of the Soweto Marathon Trust who are trying to destroy this iconic marathon.”

However, in the spirit of reconciliation Julian also asks, “It would be fantastic if everyone can place their grievances aside for one day and allow athletes the privilege of experiencing the magical magnificence of Soweto, its people and running clubs.”

Bluff Marathon: A Backup Plan

If for any reason this year’s Soweto Marathon gets cancelled, Julian has earmarked the Bluff Marathon in Durban (which will be held the following day on Sunday 30 November) as his 1000^th marathon.

Events Completed

Julian’s 999 marathons comprise 719 standard marathons (42.2km) and 280 ultra marathons (with distances ranging from 46km to 100 miles). His record consists of 274 different events and includes nine 100 milers (5 Washies, 2 Natal Midlands and 2 Cape Town).

Julian has completed the following events ten times or more:

Comrades (29)

Two Oceans 56k (25)

Soweto (18)

Cape Town Marathon (16)

Johnson Crane (16)

Arthur Creswell Bergville 52k (15)

Om Die Dam 50k (15)

Ottosdal (15)

Peninsula (15)

Riebeek Berg (15)

Kaapsehoop (14)

Jeppe (14)

Red Hill (14)

Sapphire Coast (14)

Chatsworth 52k (13)

Sasolburg (13)

Kosmos (13)

Standerton (13)

Vaal (13)

Karoo Laingsburg 80k (12)

Akasia (11)

Jackie Gibson (11)

Wally Hayward (11)

Weskus (11)

Edenvale (10)

Dolphin Coast (10)

Winelands (10)

Zululand 56k (10)

Additional Information & Resources

More background on the G.O.A.T. of recreational running can be found here: https://runningmann.co.za/2025/11/09/karpe-diem/

A shared drive with photographs available to use can be found here (note: all photo credits to The Running Mann unless stated in parentheses within the filename): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1p6o-1brwaoIIbB05iKKtMoG13GUw4shK?usp=sharing

Further queries and interview requests can be directed to: therunningmann@gmail.com

Header photo: Dean Venish

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