Russ Cook

Russ Cook is a high-performance endurance athlete and speaker best known for pushing the absolute limits of human resilience. Known widely as the “Hardest Geezer,” he captivates audiences with raw, honest storytelling and unfiltered insight into what it takes to thrive in extreme physical and mental conditions. As a speaker, Russ brings a unique mix of humour, grit, and vulnerability—offering powerful lessons on goal-setting, perseverance, and redefining the possible. His talks inspire businesses, schools, and high-performing teams to think bigger, endure longer, and never back down from the hard path.

Russ’s journey into endurance was anything but conventional. After struggling with his mental health in his early twenties, he discovered running as a lifeline—initially taking on small personal challenges before gradually escalating to truly outrageous feats. In 2019, he ran from Istanbul to Worthing in just 68 days, without any support crew. He later gained notoriety for setting a world record marathon while pulling a car, and in 2021, tested the extremes of human endurance by being buried alive for seven days. These early challenges shaped not only his physical toughness but also his perspective on growth, fear, and finding purpose through discomfort.

In April 2024, Russ completed his most extraordinary mission to date—running the entire length of Africa, from Cape Agulhas in South Africa to Cape Angela in Tunisia. The journey spanned 16,400 km over 352 days, averaging the equivalent of 386 marathons. Along the way, he faced kidnapping, armed robbery, visa issues, and debilitating injury, yet never gave up. The run, known as Project Africa, raised over £1 million for charity, supporting vulnerable youth and the Saharawi people of Western Sahara. This feat has been described as one of the greatest endurance achievements of the modern era.

Russ is hired not just for his achievements, but for what they represent—relentless commitment, courage in the face of adversity, and a deep belief in human potential. His talks leave audiences energised, moved, and ready to face their own challenges with a new mindset. Whether it’s in the boardroom or a sports team environment, Russ delivers a message that sticks: you are capable of far more than you think.