British Runner Completes 10,000-Mile Run Across Africa

Emmanuel EjioforApril 8, 20241 Mins read313

Russ Cook, aka, "Hardest Geezer"

A British runner, Russ Cook, completed a remarkable journey on Sunday, running the entire length of Africa from South to North, covering over 10,000 miles through 16 countries in 352 days.

Starting from Cape Agulhas, South Africa’s southernmost point, on April 22, 2023, Cook aimed to complete his marathon journey in 240 days. However, the British runner faced numerous challenges, which included theft, injury, and visa issues.

Celebrating his achievement in northern Tunisia alongside the Mediterranean, Cook, surrounded by cheering supporters, expressed his exhaustion after the nearly year-long endeavour.

“I’m a little bit tired,” he remarked.

The first person ever to run the entire length of Africa. Mission complete🫡 pic.twitter.com/PZk5aDCDgH

— Russ Cook (@hardestgeezer) April 7, 2024

Cook embarked on the running challenge to support two charities: the Running Charity, which assists homeless youth, and Sandblast, which aids displaced Western Saharan people. His run has successfully raised over £690,000 for these causes.

The 27-year-old from Worthing, England, has, in the past, shared how running has aided his mental health struggles.

The journey was not without its hardships. Cook and his team were victims of a gunpoint robbery in Angola, where they lost money, passports, and equipment.

He also encountered back pain in Nigeria and nearly halted due to visa complications for entering Algeria. However, the issues were later resolved through the intervention of the Algerian embassy in Britain.

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