Worthing's 'Hardest Geezer' Plans Extreme New Zealand Challenge

Worthing adventurer Russ ‘The Hardest Geezer’ Cook has set his sights on a new extreme challenge—running the entire length of New Zealand after completing his record-breaking Africa run.

Cook, 27, made headlines in April 2024 when he completed a 16-country journey from South Africa to Tunisia, running an average of 29 miles a day over the course of a year. His endurance feat raised more than £700,000 for charity. Since then, he has participated in the London Marathon, run to Germany for the Euro 2024 tournament, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

Now, Cook is preparing to take on a 3,000km route through New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail, covering 300,000 feet of elevation across 60 consecutive ultra-marathons. Sharing the news on social media, he described the challenge as the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest ten times. Partnering with tourism organisation 100% Pure New Zealand, he aims to showcase the country’s landscapes while pushing his physical limits once again.