Hardest Geezer Russ Cook begins running length of New Zealand | Global News Avenue

A man running throughout Africa has begun his latest challenge – lasting the full length of New Zealand.

Russ Cook Previous Endurance Challenges 352 days later in April last year.

The 27-year-old, from Worthing, West Sussex, plans to operate the 1,864-mile (3,000 km) Te Araroa trail that will allow him to take 60 supermarathons while riding mountains, forests, coastlines and cities.

“I have been welcomed with incredibly warm so far and it has given me a glimpse into how special the journey ahead will be,” he said.

He has already started the challenge at Stirling Point in Bluff (the southern end of New Zealand’s South Island) and will travel north for about 60 days to reach the finish line of CapeRēinga in the northern north.

Mr. Cook said he expected to climb the equivalent of about 10 Everests at high elevations over the next 10 weeks.

During the challenge, he also jumped off from the Auckland Harbor Bridge, Queenstown Canyon Swing and Abel Tasman’s Sky Dive due to bungee jumping.

He said he was happy to be “back on the road again” in his first great expedition since Africa’s length.

“If anything, from my previous experience in Africa, it has made me more adapted to the risks I can take and the risks I can’t take,” he said.

“In those uncomfortable places, there are a lot of personal growth.

“You are not completely 100% sure, but you’re going to implement it anyway, and that’s when you learn.”

Mr Cook raised over £1 million in charity during the previous period during the African challenge, despite visas, health fears, geopolitical issues and Armed robbery.

The extreme challenge begins on April 22, 2023, on 10,190 miles (16,400 kilometers) north of Tunisia.

The supermarathon runner said he plans to continue living adventures as long as his body allows.

“When I grew up, when the keel on my body was slightly out of date, I wish I could pick it up where I left,” he said.