‘Hardest Geezer' finishes 2,343km run along length of New Zealand
'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook, who ran the length of Africa last year, has completed his latest challenge by running the full length of New Zealand.
The 28-year-old from West Sussex ran 2,434km (1,512 miles) in 73 days and crossed the finish line at Cape Reinga, the northern-most point of the North Island on Thursday.
Advertisement
Mr Cook's route, which started at Stirling Point in Bluff at the southern tip of the South Island in March, took him across mountains, native forests, cities and coastlines.
Russ Cook ran more than 1,500 miles in 73 days to the lighthouse at Cape Reinga (Toby Jones/PA)
'New Zealand gave me a proper hiding at times; brutal trails, wild weather and more than a few wobbly moments, but it's also one of the most welcoming, stunning places I've ever run through,' Mr Cook said after the run.
'From the mountains to the coast, it's got some serious variety – and the people made it even better.
'I hope everyone that's after a bit of adventure, can come and experience it here.'
Advertisement
Mr Cook faced setbacks including a shin muscle injury but also clocked his fastest ever time for running 100km, taking just 11 hours.
He said he went through seven pairs of shoes, ate hundreds of pies and climbed 'a bucket-load of mountains'.
Mr Cook's adventure was in partnership with 100% Pure New Zealand, a Tourism New Zealand promotion, and allowed him to experience some of the country's visitor attractions including the Milford Sound fiord and a helicopter ride over the tallest peak, Mount Cook/Aoraki.
'The people, the landscapes, the raw beauty, this experience has been nothing short of life-changing' Mr Cook added.
Advertisement
Russ Cook encountered a diverse range of terrains while running the length of New Zealand (Toby Jones/PA)
Mr Cook has taken on a number of ambitious challenges over the last few years, including running from Istanbul in Turkey to Worthing in West Sussex in 2019.
He also set a world record in 2020 for the fastest marathon run while pulling a car, in nine hours and 56 minutes.
The endurance athlete has raised more than €1.2 million (£1 million) for charity from his Africa challenge in which he covered 16,000km, taking some 19 million steps on the journey through 16 countries.
Mr Cook says he plans to continue living adventurously as long as his body allows.
Advertisement
'When I'm older, when the body's keeled over a bit, I expect I'll pick up where I left off,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
‘One of our best': Kane Williamson pays tribute after Gary Stead steps down as New Zealand head coach
Gary Stead will stand down as Black Caps coach at the end of June, New Zealand Cricket said on Wednesday, bringing to an end a highly successful seven-year reign that included the capture of the inaugural World Test Championship title. The 53-year-old stood down as coach of the country's white ball teams in April and his desire to spend less time on tour ultimately did not marry with NZC's aspiration to have one coach across all formats. "There's been some amazing memories over the past seven years based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country," he said in a NZC statement. "It's been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I'd like to think that regardless of results, the opposition know the Black Caps are a team that won't fold." Stead said the World Test Championship triumph in 2021 and New Zealand's 3-0 sweep of India on the sub-continent last year were the highlights of his time in charge. New Zealand also finished as runners-up on boundary countback at the 2019 50-overs World Cup, runners-up at the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup as well as at the Champions Trophy earlier this year. The Black Caps topped the Test and ODI rankings and reached the semi-finals at two other white-ball World Cups during his time in charge. "For a country with five million people and limited resources, we comparatively perform outstandingly well against the other powerhouses of the game," Stead added. Producing consistent performances over such a lengthy period rested in some part on Stead's ability to refresh the squad with young players as generational talents retired or spent lengthy periods on the sidelines with injury. Former Black Caps captain Kane Williamson said Stead is likely to be remembered as one of New Zealand's most successful cricket coaches. "There was no one more hardworking and passionate about seeing the Black Caps grow and succeed," he said. "He was always thorough in his planning and preparation and will go down as one of our best coaches, but an even better bloke." NZC has already started the search for the successor to the former top-order Test batsman and Stead said he would take some time to recharge before seeking out another challenge. "I still have the coaching bug and will look to explore opportunities at home and abroad where I can look to share what I've learned from my 30 years of professional sport as a player and coach," he said.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- BBC News
Stead to step down as New Zealand head coach
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead will step down from the role when his contract expires at the end of the 53-year-old had already said he would quit as coach of the Black Caps' one-day international and T20 sides, but had remained interested in coaching the Test New Zealand Cricket decided they want one head coach across all three formats, which effectively ruled Stead out of the Test a former top-order batter who played five Tests for the Kiwis, succeeded Mike Hesson in August 2018 and oversaw a period of highlight was guiding New Zealand to the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 where they defeated India in the was also in charge of the white-ball teams which reached the finals of the 2019 50-over World Cup, 2022 T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy in said he still has the "coaching bug" and will "look to explore opportunities at home and abroad"."There's been some amazing memories over the past seven years based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country, each other and for the fans," he said."For a country with five million people and limited resources, we comparatively perform outstandingly well against the other powerhouses of the game."It's been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I'd like to think that regardless of results, the opposition know the Black Caps are a team that won't fold and will always show the grit and determination to compete."Stead took charge of 268 matches across all formats with 147 victories, 100 defeats, six draws, six ties and nine matches with no New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said Stead "gave absolutely everything" to the Kiwi cause."There was no one more hard working and passionate about seeing the Black Caps grow and succeed," added Williamson."He was always thorough in his planning and preparation and will go down as one of our best coaches, but an even better bloke."
Reuters
19 hours ago
- Reuters
Stead stands down as New Zealand coach after seven years
June 4 (Reuters) - Gary Stead will stand down as Black Caps coach at the end of June, New Zealand Cricket said on Wednesday, bringing to an end a highly successful seven-year reign that included the capture of the inaugural World Test Championship title. The 53-year-old stood down as coach of the country's white ball teams in April and his desire to spend less time on tour ultimately did not marry with NZC's aspiration to have one coach across all formats. "There's been some amazing memories over the past seven years based around a group of fantastic and talented people who have gone out to give their best for their country," he said in a NZC statement. "It's been nice to be competitive across all three formats and I'd like to think that regardless of results, the opposition know the Black Caps are a team that won't fold." Stead said the World Test Championship triumph in 2021 and New Zealand's 3-0 sweep of India on the sub-continent last year were the highlights of his time in charge. New Zealand also finished as runners-up on boundary countback at the 2019 50-overs World Cup, runners-up at the 2021 Twenty20 World Cup as well as at the Champions Trophy earlier this year. The Black Caps topped the test and ODI rankings and reached the semi-finals at two other white-ball World Cups during his time in charge. "For a country with five million people and limited resources, we comparatively perform outstandingly well against the other powerhouses of the game," Stead added. Producing consistent performances over such a lengthy period rested in some part on Stead's ability to refresh the squad with young players as generational talents retired or spent lengthy periods on the sidelines with injury. Former Black Caps captain Kane Williamson said Stead is likely to be remembered as one of New Zealand's most successful cricket coaches. "There was no one more hardworking and passionate about seeing the Black Caps grow and succeed," he said. "He was always thorough in his planning and preparation and will go down as one of our best coaches, but an even better bloke." NZC have already started the search for the successor to the former top-order test batsman and Stead said he would take some time to recharge before seeking out another challenge. "I still have the coaching bug and will look to explore opportunities at home and abroad where I can look to share what I've learned from my 30 years of professional sport as a player and coach," he said.
