'Hardest geezer' issues three-word statement after 352-day run across Africa

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Brit nicknamed 'Hardest Geezer' has finished an epic challenge of running the length of Africa, having faced machetes and being kidnapped at gunpoint.Russ Cook, from Worthing, West Sussex, has crossed 16 countries in a 16,000 kilometre journey which he began on April 22 last year.

He has faced a test of endurance and also the many obstacles en route from visa complications and health scares to armed robbery as he attempted to become the first person to run the full length of the continent.Russ set off at around 10am on Sunday from a petrol garage in Ghezala, a town in north-west Tunisia, and has now crossed the finish line located in Ras Angela, the country's most northerly point.

He has spent 352 days on the road having started at South Africa's most southerly point and has raised more than £650,000 for the Running Charity and Sandblast as part of the venture called Project Africa.Speaking at the finish line, the 27-year-old endurance athlete said, understandably: "I'm pretty tired." For the final day of his challenge, Mr Cook invited his supporters to take on the last marathon with him, with many flying out to Tunisia to run alongside him. "How can you be tired when there's this many people running with you? " he said, reports the Mirror. "There's so much energy.""The realisation that my wife got pregnant, had a baby and we now have a two month old in the time he's done this really put it into perspective," shared an awe-struck supporter who joined Russ for a segment of his final run. "I did 22km and I had to pull the pin.

He did 16,000km. It's left me speechless."Mr Cook is set to host a celebratory bash at the finish line in a Bizerte hotel, with British punk rockers Soft Play, previously known as Slaves and