'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook joins 50k runners in London Marathon race - just two ... trends now
'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook has today joined the record 50,000 people taking part in the London Marathon - just two weeks after completing his epic 10,000-mile run across the entire length of Africa.
The British runner, 27, only completed his near year-long challenge - that saw him start in the continent's most southern point, Cape Agulhas in South Africa before crossing the finish line in Ras Angela, Tunisia - on April 7.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of the race, the bearded red-headed ultra runner joked how he had enjoyed himself by scoffing some pastries over the last couple of weeks so now needed to go 'burn them off'.
Cook, from Worthing in West Sussex, who is taking part in support of the Running Charity, looked to be barely breaking a sweat as he waved to the crowds along the 26.2-mile route.
He was embraced by loved ones and serenaded by fans chanting 'Geezer, Geezer, Geezer' when he completed his African odyssey earlier his month, before he declared that he wasn't finished with running challenges and may run across north America next.
'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook has today joined the record 50,000 people taking part in the London Marathon
Russ pictured alongside Yasmin Mahamud (left) looks as though barely to be breaking a sweat as he takes on the 26.2-mile marathon
The epic trek in which he was robbed at gunpoint, held hostage and almost forced to stop the challenge after he was left visaless at the Mauritanian border, took him 352 days to finish and was the equivalent of running 385 marathons.
Mr Cook said
Other famous faces taking part in the London Marathom today include 20 MPs and peers - the most in the event's history - including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
