Russ Cook: Hardest Geezer eyeing next challenge after Africa run

Mr Cook, who has gone through 30 pairs of trainers throughout the challenge, is raising money for The Running Charity and Sandblast.

The Running Charity aims to harness the power of running to support young people experiencing homelessness or complex needs, while Sandblast runs educational programmes in refugee camps in Algeria.

Mr Cook’s claim to be the first person to run the length of Africa has been challenged by the World Runners Association (WRA) – a group made of seven athletes who have successfully circumnavigated the world on foot.

It said one of its members, Jesper Kenn Olsen, from Denmark, was the first person to run the length of Africa.

The association said Mr Olsen began his challenge on 28 December, 2008, in Taba, Egypt, before running 7,948 miles (12,791km) to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa – completing his journey in 2010.

Questioned about similar challenges in the past, Mr Cook said: “There’s plenty of people before me who have done big runs and kudos to all of them because they are all huge challenges, so nothing but respect.”