‘Hardest Geezer’ is the absolute legend running the entire length of Africa for charity and we have no words
While we're struggling to get out of bed on a Monday morning, this fair-skinned ginger bloke is running across Africa in scorching temperatures and a retro England shirt.
We come across all kinds of incredible human feats and charitable efforts in our line of work, but every now and again someone comes along that truly captures our attention and, in this case, that person is the one they call ‘The Hardest Geezer’: the man who is running the entire length of Africa.
As in all of it…
Real name Russell Cook, or Russ to his mates, this man has earned the title of Worthing’s ‘Hardest Geezer’ after completing numerous incredible and, frankly, insane endurance challenges, including becoming the first person in history to run from London to Asia. A well-earned moniker, we’d say.
Cut to April 22 onwards and his latest effort is Project Africa, inspired by the challenge to cycle 13,000 km across the Eastern seaboard of the continent — an epic journey in itself which takes over 10 months to complete. The only difference is this lad is doing it all on foot. As you do.
Setting himself the incredibly tall order of running the equivalent of 360 marathons in 240 days, Russ is now three weeks into his long-haul trek with well over 150 kilometres already ran.
ADVERTISEMENT
His journey will take him through South Africa, Namibia, Angola; the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cameroon; Nigeria, Benin, Togo; Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea; Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria and finally Tunisia where his gargantuan run will finish.
Oh yeah, did we mention that includes part of the Sahara Desert, you know, famously one of the hottest places on Earth? I mean, he’s an experienced ultra-marathon runner but this is just nuts.
ADVERTISEMENT
As for what keeps him motivated, it’s a very simple message that we can all learn from: “one day at a time, you’ve just got to keep showing up”, no matter the obstacles.
It’s safe to say that beyond all his previous ultra marathon challenges, this is one of the greatest feats of human endurance ever and he’s documenting the whole thing on his socials and on his YouTube channel.
We still get over the fact he’s ginger either — putting that fair skin under the African heat for hours and hours every day is bravery in itself! Thank god for that sun hat.
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking to Sky Sports this week, he explained how part of his inspiration came from “working jobs that [he] really didn’t like and feeling like [he] wasn’t living a meaningful, fulfilling life” and since then he’s had one overarching goal: “get after as much life I can”.
As running the entire length of Africa wasn’t brilliant enough, the thing we love most about this bloke — other than his incredible levels of positivity — is he’s fundraising along the way, raising money not only for The Running Charity which helps the homeless but WaterAid too, which provides clean water and sanitation to areas in need across the globe.
What a guy.
You can get behind him by donating to his Project Africa fundraiser HERE and we’ll leave you with one of our favourite videos he’s posted so far.
ADVERTISEMENT
You’re an inspiration to all of us and make us want to wake up and put in the graft, good on ya’.
Featured Image — Russ Cook, a.k.a. ‘Hardest Geezer’ (via Twitter)
News
Full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Day 2024
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Day is back for 2024 this weekend, and the full list of road closures set to be in place has been confirmed.
Now that schools are officially out across Greater Manchester, and the summer holidays are well and truly here, the hugely-popular Manchester Day is making a return once again this Saturday 27 July, and as always, it’s set to be “the day summer officially starts” in the city centre – with a massive celebration of “all things Mancunian” on the cards.
The theme of this year’s annual event is ‘Let The Games Begin’, and it’s inspired by the international summer of sport, just 2024 Olympics kicks off over in Paris.
The day will be packed full of free events and activities to get involved with.
Some city centre roads will be closed on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 July for Manchester Day.
These will include:
🛣️Deansgate 🛣️St Ann Street 🛣️St Mary’s Gate 🛣️Market Street 🛣️King Street
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 21, 2024
But of course, in order for the all the fun to go ahead as safely as possible, and as tends to be the case for events like these, Manchester City Council says it will need to make some temporary road closures to facilitate it.
The full list of road closures has now been confirmed by the Council, and there’s some major city centre thoroughfares set to be out of action.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Manchester Day 2024 – Road Closures
Saturday 27 July
From 6am to 11:59pm, Manchester City Council has confirmed that the following roads will be closed:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street) – access will be maintained to Marks and Spencer’s car park and Number One Deansgate.
St Ann Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street (Cross Street to Deansgate) – no access for deliveries.
All accessible bays, bus lanes, and taxi ranks within the closed areas will also be suspended during from 6pm on Friday 26 July to 11:59pm on Saturday 27 July.
The parking suspensions set to be in place are:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street)
St Ann Street – including the bays outside St Ann’s Church (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Southgate (St Mary’s Street to King Street West)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Victoria Street (Cathedral Approach to Deansgate)
Todd Street (Corporation Street to Station Approach)
King Street (Spring Gardens to Southgate)
South King Street (Ridgefield to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street West (Deansgate to St Mary’s Parsonage)
St James’s Square (John Dalton Street to South King Street)
Cross Street (King Street to Corporation Street)
Museum Street (Peter Street to Windmill Street)
Marsden Street (Cheapside to Brown Street)
Manchester Day 2024: Let The Games Begin! will take over the city centre on Saturday 27 July from 12pm-6pm.
Check out everything you need to know ahead of the event here.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete
Emily Sergeant
Work currently underway on the Rochdale via Oldham line is expected to take several weeks to complete.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has now “slowed”, and this means that detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works have been able to get underway.
In order for trams to run again on the crucial line from the city centre to the two major Greater Manchester towns, TfGM says that a small section of track has to be moved back – also known as ‘slewed’ – into its original position.
The overhead line poles also need to be repaired too, the transport operator revealed.
Rochdale line update
Land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has slowed, enabling detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works to get underway.
To get trams running again, a small section of track has to be moved back into its original position… pic.twitter.com/byERjitdi1
Unfortunately though, due to the “complex” nature of these works, and despite the fact that TfGM says it’s actively looking to “accelerate” the repairs, the project is expected to take up to five weeks to complete in full.
On top of this, the detailed ground investigations will also establish whether any further work to strengthen foundations beneath the track will be needed at a later date.
TfGM has apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete / Credit: TfGM
Speaking on the scale of works currently underway, and how long he expects them to continue for, Pete Sommers, who is TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, said: “I’m sorry for the impact this is having, and will continue to have, on people’s journeys.
“We are working to get trams running through the area again, but this remains a complex and challenging issue and it could still be a few weeks before this happens.
“We will of course keep passengers updated, and I’d encourage people to check our social media channels and website for the latest information and advice.”