First Human Ever to Run Full Length of Africa

The Wild Backstory of The 'Hardest Geezer'

“Whatever happens, it will be one hell of a story.”

For most people, being mugged at gunpoint and kidnapped by machete-wielding thugs in the jungle would be enough to accept defeat and give up.

For the self-proclaimed ‘Hardest Geezer’, it was just another bump in the road.

On April 22 2023, Russ Cook, the hardest geezer, embarked on a monumental feat: Project Africa.

His mission has been taking the media by storm, with the likes of Sir Mo Farrah and Eddie Hearn sending their messages of support.

So who the hell is he and why is he gaining so much attention?

Well, his initial plan was to run from Tunisia to South Africa, completing 360 marathons in 240 days with no rest days.

But after a last-minute switch, he set off on foot from South Africa's most southernly point – a journey that would push him to limits.

After 352 days and 16,400km distance covered, Russ crossed the finishing line in Ras Angela, Tunisia on 7^th April, 2024, having ran through 16 countries.

As well as becoming a world-record holder for the first human running Africa, Russ pledged to raise £1 million for 3 charities exclusively via the givestar app, turning his operation into a force for good.

• The Running Charity - They aim to help to transform the lives of young people affected by homelessness and multiple or complex needs.

• Sandblast - This charity helps Saharawi refugees.

• Water Aid - A global charity working to help provide clean water across the world.

"Project Africa is about lots of things. It’s about a seeing how far I can push my limits.”

"It’s about throwing everything and the kitchen sink at life. It’s about learning & sharing cultures and showing people that dreams don’t always have to stay dreams.”

However, the journey was not for the faint of heart. The 27-year-old was hit with major setbacks and just about dodged death on multiple occasions.

His support team had to navigate through pirate infested waters to get their support van across, one guy caught malaria, while Russ himself surmounted the most intrepid terrain on planet earth and left his body in tatters. In more ways than one.

If you’re in a hard place right now but have big dreams this one is for you.

It’s the ultimate story of human resilience, perseverance and courage. From someone who couldn’t have been more ‘ordinary’ to begin with.

Today on David to Goliath:

1. “I Used to be a Fat Lad”

2. Not His First Rodeo

3. Making History

4. Held Hostage at Gunpoint

5. Kidnapped in The Jungle

6. The Hardest Visa

7. The Final Stretch

“I Used to be a Fat Lad”

Russ's story began in the quaint town of Worthing, on the coast of West Sussex, England.

Growing up in a fragmented family environment, his childhood was marked by turmoil, uncertainty, and a sense of disconnection that weighed heavily on his young heart.

As he trudged through the tumultuous waters of adolescence, he found himself grappling with demons that seemed insurmountable.

Mental health left him feeling lost, alone, and searching for a way out of the darkness.

“I am actually not anything special. If you put me in a lab, I'm not genetically anything unusual. I used to be a fat lad.”

But with the dawn of adulthood came newfound freedoms—and newfound challenges.

At the age of 18, he was left isolated, living in a flat by himself, working 5 different jobs to make ends meet.

Overweight, miserable, angry at the world.

“I kind of hit rock bottom – I was crying every single day.”

He found himself drawn into the seductive allure of gambling and excessive drinking, seeking solace in vices that offered fleeting moments of escape from the harsh realities of life.

He lost everything he owned.

“I was drinking a lot. I was quite overweight, struggling with gambling and working lonely, miserable jobs that I really hated. I didn't have any zest of life left,' he added. 'I just accepted the reality that was handed to me.”

And with each roll of the dice and each sip of alcohol, he found himself sinking deeper into a quagmire of despair, his hopes and dreams slipping further and further from his grasp.

Until one night, aged 21, Russ experienced a moment of clarity while on a night out at 3am.

“I had this mad realisation: What am I doing with my life? Something needs to change.”

He was done with it all.

It was a moment born of desperation, of longing for something more, something better.

He needed redemption, a monumental transformation.

So, while tipsy in a night-club toilet in Brighton, he laced up his shoes and ran home.

12 whole miles (with a few power naps on the pavement in between).

Then out of the blue, an old friend came to him with the prospect of running the Brighton half marathon.

He agreed to do it and approached each training session with boundless determination. He immediately felt his life was back on track.

“I'm hesitant to say that running or exercise is the solution to everyone's problems because it's not, it's more complicated than that. But running or fitness and exercise can be the spark.”

For the first time in his life, he was wrapped up in a routine, charging relentlessly towards a goal.

And this one ember was all he needed. The flicker of hope in a world shrouded in darkness.

When he crossed the finish line, what he found was truly remarkable – a sense of purpose, a glimmer of hope, a reason to believe that anything was possible.

From that moment onward, Russ's life took on a new meaning—a meaning defined by passion, by perseverance, by overcoming challenges.

Running became more than just a hobby; it became his salvation, his refuge, his way of reclaiming control over a life that had once seemed beyond his grasp.

As Russ immersed himself deeper into the world of running, he discovered a community of kindred spirits—individuals who, like him, had faced their own trials and tribulations and emerged stronger, wiser, more resilient than ever before.

As he continued to push the limits of his own potential, he began to inspire others to embark on their own journey of self-discovery, to believe in themselves, to chase a life of routine and purpose through the art of running.

It wasn’t long until a vision started brewing.

Not His First Rodeo

As Russ embarked on his quest to reclaim his life's purpose, he used the small fortune he’d finally saved to go travelling around Europe and Africa.

Seeking inspiration, seeking meaning, seeking the very essence of what it means to be alive.

It was on this trip that he stumbled upon an Italian cyclist, traversing the globe on a bicycle, for 6 years. 

The simplicity of his journey, the purity of his spirit, ignited a fire within Russ—a fire that would propel him towards the extraordinary, towards the unimaginable.

As they shared tales of their respective adventures, Russ felt a kinship with this stranger—a shared understanding of the insatiable hunger for adventure.

It was in these moments of connection that he felt a profound sense of belonging—a sense that he was part of something greater than himself, part of a global community of dreamers and doers.

He then came up with the crazy idea to run from the Asian side of Istanbul to London in 2019 alone. Traversing two continents.

The first man alive to do this, he conquered 71 marathons in 66 days.

Through blistering heat and bone-chilling cold, through desert sands and mountain peaks.

Armed with nothing but a bag of snacks, a hammock, a water bottle, and a phone. Sleeping in the trees.

But amidst the pain and the struggle, there were moments of pure, unadulterated joy—moments when Russ felt truly alive, truly free, as if he were tapping into some primal, elemental force that lay dormant within him all along.

'No one gets to decide your limitations except you.' 

When he finally reached the shores of London, battered and bruised but victorious, he knew that he was becoming something more than just a man—he was becoming a legend.

And this set off a whole streak of challenges. Witnessing Ross Edgley's Herculean feat of dragging a car for an entire marathon, Russ saw an opportunity to transcend his own limits.

In an awe-inspiring display of grit and determination, he shattered records, not for personal glory, but to uplift his community through charitable endeavours.

Pulling a 730kg Suzuki Alto for 26 miles, claiming the world record in 9 hours and 56 minutes, all in aid of his local running charity.

"I looked at him and I thought I could beat that. He’s a big, bulky guy and I thought I could do better coming from an endurance running background."

In 2021, he was also buried alive for a week with nothing but water and a camera which was streaming on YouTube.

And yet, amidst the whirlwind of accolades and achievements, a grand vision began to take shape in the depths of Russ's mind—a vision that would redefine the very essence of human endurance.

Africa beckoned him with its untamed wilderness.

Russ dared to dream the unthinkable - to run the entire length of Africa.

Imagine the magnitude of such a feat - a journey spanning thousands of miles, through deserts, jungles, and savannas.

Traversing the dicey rainforests of the Congo.

The sweltering heat of the Sahara and the Namib.

The mosquitos. The diseases that could kill him.

The apex predators lurking in the shadows.

A journey fraught with danger at every turn.

A feat that has never been accomplished in human history.

“The risks are obvious to see. Worst case I snuff it or end up in some prison eating dust till the end of time. Best case I do some irreversible damage to my body. Sometimes you gotta risk it for a chocolate biscuit.”

It’s safe to say, the hardest geezer had absolutely no idea what he was getting himself into.

Making History

Russ began planning this epic venture.

He rallied a team to assist him in this journey, running operations, capturing content, route planning, lending their talents and their hearts to this mission.

But even the most audacious dreams require resources, and Russ knew that he would need more than just courage and manpower to see his vision through to fruition.

He secured a small bit of funding from a friend to kickstart the mission, yet understood that it would only sustain them for a fleeting moment in the vast expanse of their journey.

But he also understood that true greatness is born not of abundance, but of scarcity.

Constraint drives innovation.

The plan was to run from the northern tip of Tunisia to South Africa, with the aim of finishing 360 marathons in 240 days with no respite, no reprieve. No surrender.

But initial hopes were stopped due to bureaucratic red tape to logistical nightmares, including issues obtaining an Algerian visa. It seemed as though the universe itself conspired to thwart the mission, casting doubt on the feasibility of it.

A hindrance that would later resurface.

But Russ was not one to be deterred by such trivialities. With every challenge, he saw an opportunity to evolve, adapt, and overcome.

He then decided to head off North from South Africa's most southerly point on April 22.

And off they went. With a ferocious energy.

Russ's story attracts the attention of Steven Bartlett, a man who sees the fire burning within Russ and decides to fan the flames.

That’s the power of building a personal brand.

With a couple of text WhatsApp messages, Bartlett secured sponsorship deals for Russ with Huel and Perfect Ted.

The stage was set, and on he went, with the financial backing he deserved now.

It took 16 days to run through South Africa and reach Namibia.

“I am feeling absolutely sensational!” he shared as he ran, but his support van would need repairs before it could cross the border.

Russ ran ahead and had to spend the day alone in the desert, where he ran out of food and drink yet had to grind out 50km solo in the sun.

The running very quickly took its toll.

On day 45, he began pissing blood on the side of the street.

Then a check-up found both blood and protein in his urine.

This forced him to confront the harsh reality of his endeavour.

“If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. If I can’t crawl, I must be dead.” 

This is only a precursor of what’s to come, however.

Held Hostage at Gunpoint

After triumphantly ticking off South Africa and Namibia in just 50 days, Russ crossed into Angola, filled with the spirit of adventure and the warmth of the community he encountered along the way.

 “Seen a lot of rural Angola in the last couple of weeks and one thing that’s really stood out to me is how much family & community is valued here. Everywhere I go people are together. Beautiful to see.”

But as fate would have it, a dark cloud loomed on the horizon.

The next day, as the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the rugged terrain, Russ and his crew thought they had found sanctuary within the confines of their van, setting up base for the night on 21^st June.

Only to be crashed open by a group of armed robbers.

"Your belongings," came the command, a guttural growl dripping with malice and greed, "Surrender them, or face the consequences."

Pointing guns in their faces and demanding everything they had.  

The peace of the moment shattered like glass.

A vessel of terror ready to unleash its wrath upon them.

In an instant, the journey of a lifetime was interrupted by prospect of a horrific death.

The team lost cameras, drones, phones, cash, passports and visas. Yet, they retained what mattered most: their lives, their resilience, and the unbreakable bond of camaraderie.

It did lead however to a two-week delay, and a 4,000km round-trip drive back to Namibia to get new documents to proceed. 

In the aftermath of this harrowing ordeal, Russ and his team rallied their spirits and found solace in the unwavering support of the Angolan community.

Soon they had an Angolan police escort rolling with them, and the vibes were back.

It is during the darkest of nights that the stars shine their brightest.

Kidnapped in The Jungle

It took 102 days to get into the fourth country: the Democratic Republic of Congo, where bad followed good once again.

And it was here, in a remote expanse teeming with suspicion and treachery, that Russ faced his greatest challenge yet.

He would normally run for 20k before the boys would meet him in the van.

But this time was different.

The lack of tarmac roads led Russ deep into the heart of the jungle, where every step was a gamble with fate.

He ended up in a rural settlement, its inhabitants wary and distrustful of outsiders, where the chief told him he must give him money.

Pretty soon he found himself surrounded by lots of blokes with machetes. He was escorted out the village into the bush.

He emptied his bag to show that he had nothing but a half-eaten biscuit.

In an act of sheer bravery, he handed it over and ran for his life.

He spent the next few hours bushwhacking through overgrown jungle paths.

In search of the nearest tarmac path. His last hope that his friends would be there.

With each passing moment, the line between reality and delirium blurred.

But things then went from bad to worse after he realised the support van couldn't reach the road. The terrain was impassable.

As desperation loomed, two strangers on a motorbike emerged as his unlikely saviors.

They told him they would be able to take him to his crew.

He had no water, no food, and was in serious danger.

Russ made a split-second decision to trust them, clinging to hope as they embarked on a perilous journey through the heart of the jungle, knowing that if the journey lasted over 30 minutes then he was in trouble.

As the motorbike roared through the wilderness, Russ's mind raced with thoughts of survival and reunion.

And what happened next was a seven-hour motorbike ride deeper into the jungle.

The self-proclaimed hardest geezer. About to get held in a Congo gulag before being ripped apart limb by limb and eaten.

After a daunting 7 hour trip Russ was later pulled into a hut having been driven to a village, where a group of men began to argue about what they should do with him.

Russ attempted to negotiate to get his team on the phone, promising that they would arrive with money.

His team came 48 hours later and took him to safety.

A couple of days of recuperating later, and he was hosted by a family, playing football with kids on the street. Happy as Larry.

And who could forget the pet crocodile - named after yours truly? A symbol of Russ's spirit, defying the odds and finding joy amidst chaos.

As he embarked on the next chapter of his journey, Russ carried with him the lessons learned from the wilderness: the power of hope, the strength of resilience, and the unwavering belief that no obstacle is insurmountable in the pursuit of our dreams.

And then on day 200 came another grave concern – excruciating back pain.

Russ was forced to reduce his mileage and intensity at the request of a doctor in Nigeria, so took a mere two days off.

But in true Hardest Geezer style, he was not to be stopped.

As he crossed into Ivory Coast, battling scorching temperatures of 39ºC, he didn't just conquer the physical terrain but also uplifted spirits along the way. With the generosity of Intel by his side, he bestowed the gift of education upon a local school, giving 15 laptops.

Project Africa did not just entail high mileage – it also involved a high level of risk and uncertainty.

The Hardest Visa

On day 271 Russ reached Senegal, country 13. It brought unlucky news.

A single piece of paper threatened to unravel everything.

And it was the same fear that gripped the boys at the start, which forced them to turn the journey on its head. It was an ongoing fear throughout the whole mission. And it came true.

Visas for Algeria DENIED. Casting doubt over the entire challenge on day 278.

Call after call to no avail.  

His dream hanging in the balance, his spirit tested to its limits.

By no fault of his own, he had to wait to see if he could be given approval to cross the border into Algeria from Mauritania. He feared it was "game over" at the time.

So he wielded the weapon of our time – Social Media and his personal brand.

He posted a video appeal which amassed 11 million views and unleashed a storm of support.

While he waited for news, he kept heading north through Mauritania, at least 50km a day, every day.

From the ivory towers of power to the realm of Silicon Valley's titans, allies rallied to their cause.

The video gained attention from Twitter owner Elon Mask, and MPs Tim Loughton and Alexander Stafford and the Home Office.

His desperate plea paid off on day 283 as the UK's Algerian embassy offered him a courtesy visa on the spot.

A major breakthrough. Meaning they can complete the challenge.  

From this point on, that elusive strawberry daiquiri, waiting for him and his team on the beach in Tunisia, was beginning to etch into Russ’s consciousness.

But the journey was far from over.

With the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders, the Sahara, unforgiving and wild, lay before him, a wilderness untamed by man. 

“Off into rural Sahara now boys & girls. Tarmac has finished and just clinging on to last bit of signal now. I knew this would be a particularly rough part of the mission but these sandstorms are different gravy. Body is absolutely wrecked. Constant state of pain. Last stretch. Will make it happen. See you on the other side🫡”

After 310 days, he’s in the Sahara. Sandstorms raged, the elements conspired against him. The tarmac roads ran out, as did and any signs of civilisation.

He had to wear swimming goggles to keep the swirling grit out of his eyes.  

His long red beard now tied with a hair band, as he yells into his camera for his daily update.

“What a mad couple weeks that was. Sahara living up to all the hype. Sandstorms so strong it made any type of forward progress feel momentous. No roads or signal for this stretch so would often just set coordinates and navigate in a straight line through anything in my way, mostly unlimited sand. Toughest conditions of the mission so far. Delighted to finally be in Algeria where I have been getting kings treatment. Hope you’re all having a blessed week🫡🇩🇿”

But an end date was set: 7^th April, 2024.

Instead of counting up, he’s counting down: 48 days to go.           

The Final Stretch

The final stretch had arrived. For so long the finish line felt like some mystical event happening very far into the future.

“They said impossible. They don’t anymore. 332 days in, 19 to go.” 

Russ began ramping up his mileage to make up for lost time, making the decision to run through the night due to the intense daytime heat and sandstorms.

His body was in pieces. Battered and bruised.

“Day 349 of running the entire length of Africa, three days to go. Body is really starting to break down. Everything hurts. Legs feel like they’re about to fall off. So I really need someone to book me an emergency appointment next week when I’m back in the UK at the nearest bakery. Nice one, guys. Really appreciate it.”

Individual followers and bakeries alike responded to the request with compassion and respect. 'Pop in for a cinnamon bun anytime!' wrote popular chain GAIL’s Bakery. 'Get the man a Greggs for crying out loud!' commented another supporter.

Then there was a succession of days and nights over 70km. And on day 349, he reaches Tunisia, his 16th country on the run.

Smiling all the way to the northernmost point on the continent.

Months turned into weeks, and weeks turned into days.

Finally, on Sunday afternoon on 7^th April, Mr Cook laced his trainers one last time – as he set off for Tunisia's most northerly point.

The final day’s run was a marathon, with an open invitation to run along with him, whether for the whole leg or parts of it.

The final stretch had arrived. For so long the finish line felt like some mystical event happening very far into the future.

Russ began ramping up his mileage to make up for lost time, making the decision to run through the night due to the intense daytime heat and sandstorms.

His body was in pieces. Battered and bruised.

“Day 349 of running the entire length of Africa, three days to go. Body is really starting to break down. Everything hurts. Legs feel like they’re about to fall off. So I really need someone to book me an emergency appointment next week when I’m back in the UK at the nearest bakery. Nice one, guys. Really appreciate it.”

Individual followers and bakeries alike responded to the request with compassion and respect. 'Pop in for a cinnamon bun anytime!' wrote popular chain GAIL’s Bakery. 'Get the man a Greggs for crying out loud!' commented another supporter.

Then there was a succession of days and nights over 70km. And on day 349, he reaches Tunisia, his 16th country on the run.

Smiling all the way to the northernmost point on the continent.

Months turned into weeks, and weeks turned into days.

Finally, on Sunday afternoon on 7^th April, Mr Cook laced his trainers one last time – as he set off for Tunisia's most northerly point.

The final day’s run was a marathon, with an open invitation to run along with him, whether for the whole leg or parts of it.

Then the Mediterranean pierced into view. That ice cold strawberry daiquiri was in sight. And Russ runs down the sand dunes with a brightly coloured crowd of people running alongside him, reminiscent of Forrest Gump.

As they chanted “Geezer,” he strode toward the Med, pulled off his blue England football shirt, and dived in the sea.

And finally, the strawberry daiquiri was in his hand.

The crowd surround him and celebrate his historic achievement.

Russ can barely believe that it’s over.

The celebrations went on long into the night - helped by a finishing party performance by British punk band Soft Play at a hotel in Bizerte.

"There's obviously been a bunch of times where it was very difficult," he added. "Sahara desert, sandstorms, pushing that mileage up for the last couple of months was really tough as well. But I was never gonna quit - just got to get it done and the only way out is the end. So what's next? I will pick up the training again soon. My body is in a hell of a state. It needs fixing up first."

Mission complete.

Top 3 Takeaways:

1. Power of Personal Brand: Personal brands online are only getting stronger by the day. Getting the attention of Elon Musk or Steven Bartlett for free cannot be understated. But if you want to stand out in a sea of noise you must be willing to do something different and have a great story to share. Originality always pays best. The best time to start was 10 years ago but the next best time is now.

2. Set Bigger Goals: If your goals don’t scare you they’re not big enough. Just like the hardest geezer setting the crazy goal of running the entire length of Africa, go big, go wild, do something monumental and put your reputation on the line. Life is too short not to make it one hell of an epic adventure - and you’ll have the best stories to tell your Grandkids!
   

3. Everyone’s Blagging it: You think the people at the top are ‘natural’ and have it all worked out. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. They’ve just been blagging it for longer than you have. They just took the leap of faith and figured it out along the way. If you’re willing to fail, be laughed at and never give up, you’re only one decision away from changing your life. Don’t let your ignorance stop you.

P.S. If you want to show the Hardest Geezer some support, you can donate to his charity here.

Until next time, keep dreaming like a Giant.

But fight and believe in your dreams like a God Damn Underdog.

Yours truly,

-Nigel Thomas

P.S. If you enjoyed this there are 3 ways you can get more involved:

#1: Not yet subscribed To David to Goliath? Subscribe Here so you don’t miss out on the next email!

#2: Prefer listening instead of reading? Listen to the Exclusive David to Goliath Podcast Here

#3: Check out my LinkedIn Content Everyday I post stories, tools and mindset tips to help you win in life and business.