SOWETO - 'I feel brilliant'.
Those were the first words from 65-year-old Julian Karp as he completed his 1,000th career marathon at the African Bank Soweto Marathon on Saturday.
Gathering the last of his strength as he crossed the finish line, Karp was overcome with excitement and a deep sense of achievement.
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The moment was not only historic, but deeply personal.
Karp ran the very first Soweto Marathon when it launched in the early 90s.
Years later, reaching his 1,000th marathon at the same event felt like a powerful full-circle moment.
To date, he has completed 18 Soweto Marathons, 280 ultra-marathons, 29 Comrades Marathons and 25 Two Oceans Marathons.
As he made his way to receive his medal, crowds cheered him on.
Speaking after the race, Karp expressed gratitude and joy.
“It was a great day. What a privilege it is to be part of this event. It was absolutely fantastic. Thank you to the Soweto African Bank Club for making this happen," he said