Fun facts
Won a marathon
He has won a marathon - and placed in his age group in numerous others
Runs off of sugar
He has never had a cup of coffee. His version of caffeine are Dunkin Donuts Coolatas
Runs without music
Errol has never listened to music while running. No "eye of the tiger," no podcasts, nothing.
From Cape Town, South Africa
He was born and raised in Cape Town, where he ran 42 marathons - including the South African Champs
Has run... a lot
All of his marathons total to over 5k km - basically across the U.S. and back
He wore short shorts
He only wore his short South African flag shorts for the Boston Marathon. Very recognizable.
Burger n shakes after every marathon
It was tradition for Errol to have a burger and milkshake after every marathon. His favorite was the Spur in South Africa
Loves the Boston Marathon
He has run 20 Boston marathons - which includes his 100th marathon.
Press
He ran 14 marathons in 1 year to make Boston his 100th. With each marathon, came its own special story.
Errol and 4 friends train for the grueling 56 mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa
Stories from Errol's running community
We love hearing from everyone who has run and known Errol. Here are some kind comments from his friends and community.
Neil + Nadia
By now you would have completed your 100th marathon. What an incredible achievement. If you still lived in South Africa that would be running 3 times from Cape Town to Johannesburg!
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I can claim a little of your success in that I, together with Marlon, was your first “second” in your marathon no.1 – I recall saying “keep going Errol you can do it”. Little did I know you took me literally and never stopped!
You have been an inspiration to us all by setting this goal and achieving it but more importantly you have clearly been a wonderful role model to your family who have followed literally in your footsteps.
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I am proud to now say that my good friend in Boston has completed his 100th marathon and I assume with many more miles to come.
Errol, well done and be sure that in August when Franklin, Marlon, Jonathan and I are together we will drink a toast to our ultra fit and amazing friend.
Spencer
By now you would have completed your 100th marathon. What an incredible achievement. If you still lived in South Africa that would be running 3 times from Cape Town to Johannesburg!
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I can claim a little of your success in that I, together with Marlon, was your first “second” in your marathon no.1 – I recall saying “keep going Errol you can do it”. Little did I know you took me literally and never stopped!
You have been an inspiration to us all by setting this goal and achieving it but more importantly you have clearly been a wonderful role model to your family who have followed literally in your footsteps.
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I am proud to now say that my good friend in Boston has completed his 100th marathon and I assume with many more miles to come.
Errol, well done and be sure that in August when Franklin, Marlon, Jonathan and I are together we will drink a toast to our ultra fit and amazing friend.
Ronnie
The pictures you sent me certainly bring back fond memories. Those were the days when my hair was black and not grey and Errol HAD hair.
Every era has wonderful life memories but the seventies and eighties in Constantia were something special. I remember arriving in the area in 1971 with a heavily pregnant wife and immediately made friends with our wonderful neighbours, the Yudelmans. I was 30 years of age and Errol was a little boy.. Six years later I started running seriously and a few months later Errol asked me if he could join me. I thought that I was a pretty good runner at 4 minutes a km over a marathon but I very soon learnt that I wasn't in Errol's class. Here was a guy who was a natural and if he wasn't so bright academically he probably would have ended up as a South African champion. This is a typical story of a one time mentor fading into obscurity while his protégé reaches for the stars.
I remember the time I was seconding Errol when he was running an elite marathon in Stellenbosch. About half way through I attempted to run a bit with him. I managed to stay with him for about 900 meters and then stopped exhausted while he went on to finish the second half of the race.
Errol is not just a good runner. He was also a brilliant student who topped his class at university and went on to great success in the financial business world. However most important of all he is a good guy and a mensch in the true sense of the word.
Errol - on this your 100th marathon I wish you all the mazel in the world. You have been blessed with wonderful parents, a great loving wife and beautiful children. May you and your family continue to win the rewards of a good, healthy and successful life.
Kindest regards and all the very best
Liam
In July of 2009 I was about to be passed by some talkative runners on the Newton Hills when my ego made me pick up my pace to match theirs. The next thing I knew I was running and talking with Errol and Adrian for the next hour. When I finally qualified for Boston later that year, I came back looking for those folks, found them and have been proud to call them friends ever since. Errol introduced me to the amazing, welcoming people of the Heartbreak Hill Striders whose camaraderie and enthusiasm for running are infectious.
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Boston 2013 was my fastest marathon. After the finish I was lucky enough to bump into Errol walking to the recovery center. He was so excited to share my accomplishment, it was easy to miss the fact that he had nonchalantly just run the same race in the same time. Running the Boston Marathon with him for several miles last year was like being in the Super Bowl parade with the Patriots; everyone knows him and cheers for him. It’s Errol’s humor and humility about being such an accomplished and prolific runner that always catches me off guard. He is a true power of example.
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Errol, Thank you for teaching me that while running, it’s perfectly acceptable to remove your shirt whenever the mood strikes you; and congratulations on your first 100 marathons!
Anthony
Errol, very proud of my friend of 40 years who is still going strong after 38 years of running marathons. I remember so well back in 1979 seconding you on one of your first marathons and its incredible to see you are still running in these prestige marathons. I suspect you have many more marathons in you---Ed Whitlock of Toronto just broke the world record for the 85-90 year category in the Toronto Marathon in 3 hours 56 minutes---I have a feeling you will be doing the same and I look forward to seeing and hearing lots more from you in the running world. It was great to spend an evening with you and Marlene a few weeks ago in Newton and I look forward to seeing you all soon again”
Jim
Errol
Your dedication & perseverance are of the highest order, and represent a level of excellence for all runners to emulate.
Proud to be your Coach & Friend.