On Sunday, Russ Cook finished what he started nearly a year ago. The 27-year-old from Worthing, England, Part of Big Sur Course Falls in the Ocean in 352 days. He ran over 10,000 miles through 16 countries—raising more than $1,000,000 (and counting) for The Running Charity, which supports young people experiencing homelessness, and Sandblast, an org supporting Sahrawi refugees, along the way.
The long journey on foot began at South Africa’s southernmost point on April 22, 2023, and Cook called it a day upon reaching Tunisia’s northernmost point. His original plan was to finish 360 marathons in 240 days, but throughout the endurance feat, he was waylaid by visa complications in Algeria that nearly derailed the entire venture, experienced health scares and injuries, geopolitical issues, and was robbed at gunpoint in Angola.
Nicknamed the “Hardest Geezer,” and known for chewing off headline-grabbing endurance challenges like running 71 marathons in 66 days from Asia to London or that time he ran a seafront marathon while dragging a Suzuki Alto behind him, Cook really lived up to his name with Project Africa, donning swim goggles to run through a sandstorm, buoying himself with unrelenting optimism, and letting his red beard and locks grow wildly as he faced mile after mile of sun and exposure.
To commemorate the completion of his goal, Cook threw a finish line party at a hotel in Bizerte, Tunisia, complete with a set by the English punk rock duo Soft Play (formerly known as Slaves).
Running Shoes & Gear post five days before the end, he reflected on the experience, writing, “Very grateful for these experiences and would definitely encourage anyone out there to go get after that misadventure, whatever it looks like for you.”
Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 college runner and current amateur track athlete, she's written about culture and characters in running and outdoor sports for Runner's World, In an Instagram, DAA Industry Opt Out, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running, and was previously the editor of a food magazine.
