'Worlds Hardest Geezer' running the length of New Zealand

A man who ran the entire length of Africa has revealed his next ambitious goal, running the full length of New Zealand.

Russ Cook, known as the "Hardest Geezer," completed his previous endurance feat in April of last year after an exhausting 352 days. Now, the 27-year-old from Worthing, West Sussex, is gearing up to tackle the (3,000km) Te Araroa Trail in March, which will see him run 60 ultramarathons through mountains, forests, coastlines, and cities.

"After completing such a big challenge, it took a while for my body to recover, but now I feel fresh and ready to take on the next one," he said.

Mr. Cook shared his excitement about the new challenge, stating, "New Zealand has always been on my bucket list. It's the adventure capital of the world."

He added, "It’s going to be brutally tough on my legs, unlike anything I've done before."

One of the toughest aspects, he predicts, will be the total climb of 300,000 feet (91,440m) throughout the journey. Along the way, he'll also take on thrilling activities like bungee jumping off Auckland Harbour Bridge, canyon swinging in Queenstown, and skydiving in Abel Tasman.

During his previous Africa challenge, Mr. Cook raised over £1 million for charity despite facing numerous obstacles, including visa issues, health scares, geopolitical hurdles, and even an armed robbery.

Starting on April 22, 2023, his journey began at the southernmost point of South Africa and ended more than 10,190 miles (16,400km) away in Tunisia. While he had initially planned to complete the equivalent of 360 marathons in 240 days, complications led him to extend the challenge.

His New Zealand run is set to begin in March, and he expects it to take about 10 weeks to finish.