After nearly a year of traversing deserts, mountains, and rainforests spanning 16 countries, Russ Cook, better known as the Hardest Geezer, has successfully completed his ambitious endeavor to run the entire length of Africa.
The journey, originally slated to conclude by Christmas and spanning a distance exceeding 385 marathons, ultimately extended over 16,300 kilometers (approximately 10,000 miles) and lasted 352 days. Russ Cook, a 27-year-old from Worthing, known as the Hardest Geezer, faced myriad challenges, including life-threatening situations and harsh conditions, as he traversed from South Africa to Tunisia’s Mediterranean coast.
Throughout the expedition, Cook and his team encountered armed robbery, endured border delays, and received police escorts. Despite grappling with illness, injury, and rugged terrain, Cook persisted.
On Sunday, surrounded by individuals he had inspired and supported by a social media community documenting his journey, Cook completed his final marathon, marking the culmination of his epic adventure. Claiming to be the first person to achieve this feat, Cook has raised over £650,000 for his chosen charities, surpassing halfway towards his £1 million fundraising goal.
This narrative encapsulates the challenges and triumphs of Cook’s extraordinary year-long odyssey.
Day one: The start of Project Africa
On April 22, 2023, Cook embarked on the inaugural strides of his monumental undertaking—a journey he had meticulously planned, readied himself for, and trained extensively.
On the first day, he covered a distance of 50.6 kilometers, exceeding 30 miles, starting from the coastal South African village of L’Agulhas, situated at Africa’s southernmost tip.
His route then took him along Africa’s western coastline, traversing through Namibia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, and Algeria.
Day 64: Robbed at gunpoint
Despite being as well-prepared as possible for the journey ahead, Russ Cook encountered unforeseen challenges over the past year. Just two months into the expedition, Cook and his team fell victim to an armed robbery, during which their passports, money, phones, and equipment were stolen.
Although thankfully no one was harmed during the incident, the team received police escort for the remainder of their journey through Angola.
As the mission progressed, Cook found himself separated from his team due to impassable roads and faced another perilous situation when confronted by a group armed with machetes demanding money. Once again, Cook was fortunate to escape unharmed.
Day 167: Running on through food poisoning
In addition to enduring the physical and mental strain of running an ultramarathon daily, Russ Cook faced numerous instances of sickness and injury throughout his journey.
Encountering a mysterious illness during the initial phases of the challenge, the British runner persevered despite battling food poisoning on multiple occasions, notably enduring several days of illness while passing through Cameroon.
As if that weren’t enough, flu struck as Cook transitioned from Nigeria to Benin, marking his 200th day of the journey. Despite his typically positive demeanor, Cook candidly admitted, “Truth be told I am a shell of a man at the moment.”
Day 205: Back injury threatens mission
Despite persevering through previous injuries, including a troubling foot ailment, Russ Cook was compelled to halt his journey for 48 hours due to a back issue.
The pain was so intense that even the self-proclaimed ‘Hardest Geezer’ sought medical scans. Fortunately, the scans revealed no bone damage, providing Cook with the reassurance needed to resume his journey.
The toll on his body from the daily exertion is hard to comprehend. By day 266, as he traversed the mountainous terrain of Guinea, Cook likened the sensation to having his hip flexors replaced with cheese strings.
Day 278: A call for help
Throughout his journey, visa complications remained a persistent concern for Russ Cook and his team. However, the most daunting border challenge arose when they attempted to transition from Mauritania to Algeria after covering 12,000 kilometers.
Facing difficulties obtaining Algerian visas, Cook turned to social media for assistance. Thanks to the power of online networking, his plea reached British Members of Parliament, who responded with support. Shortly thereafter, their visa applications were approved.
Despite encountering numerous positive experiences throughout Africa, Cook highlighted Mauritania as a particularly memorable location where he was overwhelmed by the generosity of locals offering supplies and assistance while he was on the road. With the visas secured, the finish line was now within reach.
Day 304: Sandstorms and snowstorms in the desert
As Russ Cook surpassed the 300-day mark in Africa, he found himself traversing the Sahara Desert, his body battered and in a perpetual state of agony.
In addition to enduring relentless sandstorms, he encountered unexpected snowstorms in the Algerian deserts, compelling him to seek shelter. Furthermore, a breakdown of their van briefly separated him from the rest of his team.
Nevertheless, equipped with swimming goggles to shield his eyes and a folded T-shirt to cover his mouth, Cook persisted onward toward the finish line.
Day 352: The finish line
For Russ Cook, the dream of lounging on a beach in Tunisia with a strawberry daiquiri had been a long-standing aspiration.
On Sunday, that dream finally materialized as he reached Ras ben Sakka, the northernmost point of Tunisia, marking the completion of his remarkable journey.
Admitting to shedding a few tears at the onset of the final day, Cook paused to gaze at the horizon, his hands resting on his head in a moment of reflection.
Accompanied by many who had been captivated by his journey over the past 12 months, Cook covered the closing 44 kilometers. Upon reaching the finish line, he was joyously reunited with family, friends, and his partner. For Cook, the culmination of his journey, which had seemed like a distant, almost mystical event for so long, had finally arrived.