Russ Cook, otherwise known as the Hardest Geezer, has been all over the news recently after he completed his epic run across the length of Africa. The endurance runner raised close to £1 million for charity and is now using his newfound fame to promote the Marathon des Sables.
Known as one of the toughest ultra-marathons on the planet, the race takes place in the Sahara Desert and covers 250 kilometres. There’s a vast amount of interest in the Sahara in popular culture, but will Cook’s involvement encourage more people to run the race?
Sahara Famous for its Terrain and Harsh Conditions
Most people know about and are interested in the Sahara Desert, as it's hard to believe that places with such extreme conditions exist on earth. Due to this fascination, it has been represented on many occasions in films and games. Developers in the online casino industry often turn to well known settings for inspiration, with the sandy desert a great option for slot games. Many people play Sahara Riches Cash Collect because they've heard about the massive patch of sand and want to know more about it. The game takes players deep into the desert, where they can hunt for cash prizes.
There are various well-known films that have given viewers a glimpse of the largest hot desert on the planet as well, showing its wild terrain on the screen. Lawrence of Arabia and the Mummy both used the Sahara Desert as a setting because of its visually stunning appeal. There have also been several documentaries that have helped people learn about the largely inhospitable yet mesmerising location.
Hardest Geezer Already Ran Through the Entire Desert
The ruthless Marathon des Sables will seem like an easy feat for Cook, as it’s a fraction of what he completed when he was last there. Cook already ran through over 1000 kilometres of the desert on his mission to be the first person to run the length of Africa. The Sahara was one of the toughest periods of his mission and took more than one month to complete. During that period, the Hardest Geezer was faced with intense heat, sandstorms, and some of the toughest terrain imaginable.
The Sahara was a crucial part of Cook’s mission not just from a running perspective, but for raising awareness as well. A portion of the 27-year-old’s charity pot is reserved for Sandblast, which is a foundation that helps the indigenous Saharawis of Western Sahara.
Cook Will Return for the Ultra Marathon
The main reason why Cook will return to the Sahara for another ultramarathon is to continue his excellent support of Sandblast and help more people learn about the cause. The run usually attracts over 1000 runners, but Cook’s newfound fame should help to attract a lot more.
The marathon was first completed by Patrick Bauer in 1984, who covered the distance on his own. It became an official event two years later, when 23 people took part. Now, people take it on over seven days, with Lahcen Ahansal having won it the most times.
There is no doubt that Cook’s amazing feat across Africa has made more people aware of the Marathon des Sables. The next event could be massive, with Cook and his army of followers in attendance.
