Chasing Horizons: Hardest Geezer takes on New Zealand

Hardest Geezer, 28-year-old Russell Cook, has set off on his next quest. Attempting to run the length of New Zealand.  

On 22nd April 2023, Cook began ‘Project Africa’, determined to run the entire length of Africa. Het set of in Cape Agulhas, South Africa and covered 10,125 miles (16,295km) before conquering his goals and completing his run in Cape Angela, Tunisia on 7th April 2024.

This journey took him 352 days which means that, on an average, Russ was covering 28.7 miles (46.3km) per day for just short of a year. That’s the equivalent of 386 marathons and running through 16 countries. 

At the finish line last spring, Cook was greeted by a crowed of fans who had been following his journey online and ran alongside him for the last few miles. He told reporters: “I’m pretty tired” before announcing to the crowd: “Mission Completed!”.  

After 339 days of recovery, the adrenaline junky goes again. Cook set off on March 12th, planning to run the full length of New Zealand by following the 1,864-mile (3,000km) Te Araroa Trail. This will lead him through the mountains, forests, coastlines and cities all while completing 60 ultramarathons in total.