On the morning of 22 April 2023, Russ Cook set off on Project Africa. This specific challenge meant Russ was aiming to become the first human to run the entire length of Africa (Cape Agulhas, South Africa, to Cape Angela, Tunisia).
About the challenge
The Project Africa route totalled 9,500km (15,000 miles). Russ ran through 16 different countries, each with their own beauty and logistical problems. Cook ran through: South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia. These countries offered Russ many terrains such as tarmac, dirt tracks, rainforest and deserts and faced language barriers, reliance on sponsorships, and immigration visas.
Know the numbers
Distance to run 9,500km (15,000 miles)
Average 42km a day for 352 days
Russ originally planned 240 days, but due to setbacks, 100 days were added.
30+ pairs of Hoka trainers.
On 7 April 2024, Russ completed Project Africa
Setbacks
On day 64, Russ experienced armed robbery in Angola. Passports, cash, and cameras were taken
Russ was kidnapped for over a day in the DRC with a cash incentive to be released
Medical emergencies such as urinating blood, sickness, and body pains
Before Russ completed Project Africa, he said: “I am 9 days out. For so long the finish line has felt like some mystical event happening very far into the future, so it’s pretty crazy to comprehend that it is now only single-digit days away. This last year has been a mad one. A classic bit of type 2 fun with a generous sprinkle of type 3. What a time to be alive”.
Cook managed to raise £1 million for two charities: The Running Charity and Sandblast. See more on the Givestar website here.
Who is Russ Cook?
Russ Cook, 27, from Worthing, UK, is a very accomplished ultrarunner known well in the community. Cook turned his life around from being a heavy gambler and drinker to an inspiration to thousands across the world. Russ grew up in a loving family, yet disagreements and arguments led Russ to leave home as a teenager, where he worked many jobs such as a cleaner, prison guard, and a sales consultant.
As Russ began the journey of running and turning his life around, Russ ran home after a night out 13 miles and then signed up for the Brighton half and full marathon. Cook used his time away from work to run 160km+ per week and train. Soon enough, Russ left his multiple jobs to travel the world, including going to Iten, Kenya, the world’s best running training camps, home to elite runners such as Eliud Kipchoge and Kelvin Kiptum.
After these trips, Russ completed a run from Asia (Istanbul) to the UK (London); he was self-sufficient and slept in a hammock every night. All he had was an England FC top, phone charger, bucket hat, and running backpack.
Then began the preperation for Project Africa. Russ knew he needed around £300k for the whole mission (salaries, support vehicles, fuel, visas, camera equipemnt). Russ started Project Africa with a £50k investment from a childhood friend who owned some cryptocurrency. £10k of that was spent on the support vehicle named Nellie and shipping it over to South Africa.
Check out the dedicated YouTube channel, titled Hardest Geezer, where a series of 96 videos tells all.
Russ invited supporters to Tunisia to run the final marathon with him, and the Runlore team were lucky enough to do just that. Running 42.2 km with Russ, his team, supporters, and locals in rural Tunisia was a moment to treasure for life.