British Man Makes History, Breaks World Record in Africa

Russ Cook, an adventurer from Worthing, West Sussex, has recently completed an awe-inspiring journey, running the length of Africa from south to north.

This monumental challenge took him nearly a year to accomplish, culminating in a victorious finish in Ras Angela, Tunisia, the northernmost tip of the continent, where he was greeted by an assembly of supporters.

Self-described as the “Hardest Geezer,” Cook embarked on the final leg of his journey on Sunday, marking the end of an arduous 350-day run that spanned the equivalent of 385 marathons. Overcoming physical and emotional hurdles, he shared moments of reflection with Sky News before his last push, revealing the mix of determination and vulnerability that carried him through.

Cook’s ambition was not just a personal quest for endurance but also a pioneering attempt to become the first person to run the full length of Africa. Starting from Cape Agulhas, South Africa’s southernmost point, in April 2023, his journey was also a mission of goodwill. Throughout his run, Cook has been raising funds for two vital causes: The Running Charity, supporting the mental health of young people facing homelessness, and Sandblast, dedicated to educating people about Sahrawi culture.

Despite the triumphant outcome, Cook’s adventure was fraught with challenges. He faced a harrowing robbery at gunpoint in Angola, where he lost cameras, phones, and passports. The journey took a more perilous turn in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Cook went missing for days in the jungle, only to be freed by paying off armed villagers. Further complicating his mission, Cook encountered visa issues at the Mauritania-Algeria border, which threatened to halt his progress. Thanks to a significant social media push, the Algerian Embassy expedited a courtesy visa, allowing him to continue.

This expedition across Africa might have been Cook’s most ambitious challenge, but it wasn’t his first. At just 22 years old, he completed a run from Asia to England, covering 71 marathons in 66 days.