Home Hill marathoner Karin Thorburn has added another remarkable milestone to her already record-breaking career, taking out the Sporting Excellence Award at the 2025 North Queensland Sportstar Awards in Townsville on Saturday night.
The accolade recognised Thorburn’s extraordinary feat as the first Australian to complete more than 500 official marathons, alongside her tireless efforts to grow the sport across North Queensland.
“I couldn’t believe it [when i heard my name called]... I was in complete shock,” she laughed. “When you’re surrounded by so many fantastic athletes, you don’t expect to win. I’m just a runner doing what I love to do.”
For more than 26 years, Thorburn has lived and breathed distance running. She started at age 33, after raising her three children, looking for something that was truly her own. Since then, her passion has taken her around the world, completing all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York—earning her the official title of Six Star Finisher.
Along the way, she has continued to push boundaries, setting personal milestones and inspiring new runners with her dedication, all while balancing her work at Regis Aged Care Centre in Home Hill, where her residents remain some of her biggest supporters.
“I think when they see this, they’ll be so chuffed and proud,” she said.
Originally from Sydney, Thorburn and her husband Tim settled in the Burdekin just over a year ago, embracing the region’s slower pace and strong community spirit. They’re regulars at Plantation Parkrun in Ayr and also help to organise the Magnetic Marathon Series in Townsville—an event that’s attracted runners from across the world and even earned a Guinness World Record.
As she prepares to fly out this week for the New York Marathon, Thorburn remains focused on the simple motivation that started it all.
“It just comes back to passion,” she said. “While I’m healthy and able, I’ll keep running marathons around the world, and helping others start their own journey.”
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