He Ran Africa in 352 Days and What He is Doing Next is Even Harder

After conquering the entire length of Africa, endurance athlete Russ Cook has revealed his next ambitious goal: running the full length of New Zealand.

Known as "Hardest Geezer," Cook completed his Africa challenge in April last year, covering thousands of miles over the course of 352 days. Now, the 27-year-old from Worthing, West Sussex, is preparing to take on the 1,864-mile (3,000 km) Te Araroa Trail in March.

This demanding journey will require him to complete 60 ultramarathons while traversing rugged mountains, dense forests, coastal paths, and urban landscapes.

Ready for the Next Big Adventure

Reflecting on his recovery from his last endurance feat, Cook shared that it took time for his body to fully recover. However, after indulging in classic British meals like sausage rolls and roast dinners, he says he’s back to full strength and eager to tackle the next challenge.

"This one's going to be tough," Cook admitted. "But New Zealand has always been on my list, it's the adventure capital of the world."

He anticipates that the greatest challenge will be tackling the combined elevation gain of approximately 300,000 feet (91,440 meters) over the course of the route.

Along the way, he plans to take part in iconic adventure activities, including bungee jumping from Auckland Harbour Bridge, canyon swinging in Queenstown, and skydiving over Abel Tasman National Park.

A Record of Extreme Challenges

Cook is no stranger to endurance trials. During his run across Africa, he faced countless obstacles, including visa issues, health concerns, geopolitical tensions, and even an armed robbery.

Despite these hardships, he successfully covered over 10,190 miles (16,400 km), starting from South Africa’s southernmost point on April 22, 2023, and finishing in Tunisia.

Originally, he aimed to complete 360 marathons in 240 days, but the unforeseen difficulties led to an extended timeline. His efforts raised over £1 million for charity.

Now, with his New Zealand expedition set to begin in March, Cook expects to complete the challenge in approximately 10 weeks, once again testing the limits of human endurance.