Man who ran the entire length of Africa reveals his next daunting challenge

The Hardest Geezer has announced his next grueling challenge and it involves 60 ultramarathons.

Russ Cook will run the length of Aotearoa New Zealand along one of the world’s most diverse trails Te Araroa, which has a higher terrain than Mount Everest.

The adventurer spent months recovering from his 10,000 mile jaunt across Africa in 365 days last year, feasting on sausage rolls to celebrate his win.

But he is now in top shape to tackle a challenge greater than Everest.

The 27-year-old told Metro: ‘It was a big adjustment coming back from Africa. I ate plenty of sausage rolls but now I am feeling pretty sharp again.

‘New Zealand is somewhere I have always wanted to go. It seemed like an amazing opportunity to see the country on foot.

‘There are some mad things going on in New Zealand. The elevation gain is disgusting, it is ten times Mount Everest.

‘The high altitude makes cardio a lot harder and the incline makes it harder on the legs.’

The Hardest Geezer will begin his grueling run in March in Bluff, the southernmost tip of the New Zealand’s South Island, and run northbound before crossing the finish line in Cape Rēinga, at the top of the North Island. 

The mammoth journey will take him over 3000km along the Te Araroa path along a terrain that covers rivers, mountains and beaches.

‘Hopefully I don’t get robbed at gun point again!’ says Russ, referring to the moment when he was and his team had thousands of pounds worth of goods taken during an armed robbery in Africa.

He instead wants to use the publicity of the trip to show the limitless bounds of human physical capability.

‘I am trying to empower and inspire people to get moving and go after the adventure of their life.

‘I’m excited at the prospect of witnessing some incredible landscapes and meeting inspiring people from a rich and diverse culture.’

New Zealand’s tourist organisation 100% Pure New Zealand will also organise for Russ to bungee jumping off the Auckland Harbour Bridge, which is more than 3,000 ft high.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.