Ryan Dowbakin

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

Right girls and boys, we have a bit of a problem. We haven’t been able to get visas for Algeria, and if we don’t get them, then it’s game over for project africa.

I’ve been running now for 278 days, covered nearly 12,000km through 13 countries and raised over £140k for charity in my attempt to become the first person ever to run the entire length of Africa. But right now all of that is totally hanging on whether we can get permission from Algeria to let us cross in through this border with Mauritania.

This is the only option we have left so, Algeria, if you’re listening, please reach out to me on my contact [email protected]

Anything you need from us please let me know. It would be an absolute privilege to visit your beautiful country.

To everyone following the journey online please help us out by sharing this and helping us get this seen by the appropriate people in Algeria.

@AhmedAttaf_Dz
@AlgPresidency
@TebbouneAmadjid

Thank you for the support guys we need it now more than ever🫡 #algeria #algeriatravel

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

Day 278 of running the entire length of Africa. Need your support now more than ever on this one. Appreciate you all🫡

[Josh @joshpearson180]

Nothing comes close, incredible

[BBC News (World) @BBCWorld]

Man running length of Africa completes longest day https://t.co/rhw4T6zwm3

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

#ProjectAfrica Day 209-211:

Day 209: 60.1km
Day 210: 37.1km
Day 211: 51.8km

Total raised for charity: £77,397

You see me yeah. Mashed up differently right now. I look in the mirror I see a few things have changed in the last 211 days. Head is a jungle. Body is a wafer thin slice of tesco value ham.

When you close your eyes you see the insides of your eyelids. When I close mine I see tarmac. I hear 10 tonne trucks making a b-line for my skull. I feel 38 degree sun cooking my soul.

I wake up and it was all just a dream? No. The garmin says 0 on it again. Back on road. How can this be? Too many questions. Sometimes I feel like I know what’s going on, then I realise, I know nothing.

The world famous game of life girls & boys. What a way🫡

[Ryan Dowbakin @DowbakinRyan]

Anyone selling Bakar tickets for Manchester? Let me know

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

#ProjectAfrica Day 69: 59km

Another day carving size 9 holes in Angolan tarmac. My body is in a constant state of pain but once I’ve been running for a while sometimes it starts going numb which is handy. Shoutout to whatever part of my physiology that’s making that happen #science

Sending all the love to everyone out there pushing through the pain to get that work done right now. We all suffer. It’s all part of the game. If we can find some meaning in there somewhere along the way then maybe it’s all worth it.

Back for more tomorrow🫡

[Ryan Dowbakin @DowbakinRyan]

1 x ticket for The Lathums at Castlefield Bowl 30th June - face value. Message me!

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

#ProjectAfrica Day 41: 60km

There are moments throughout this mission that I find really tough. The responsibility. The pressure. The relentless strain. I feel it.

Sometimes it’s a blessing. Sometimes it’s a curse. But what it always does is force me to find the answers to difficult questions. Just stop here? You could just walk? Take it easy today?

Every day my mind get’s exercised. I search for the discipline, resilience, self belief, to get me through.

Some days it’s easier to find it than others. It’s always a work in progress. But the growth is etched into each fibre of the struggle, and I know I’m a better man for going through it. Love this game🫡

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

#ProjectAfrica Day 40: 60km

Had some solid bowl movements for first time in a while this morning. Knew it was go time. Determined to start making up for the lack of km’s in recent days.

60 big ones in before the sun went down. Satisfied. Demand the same again tomorrow. Minimum. Death is upon us all. Walls to be built. Vamos.

Efficient days get me going. Almost as much as caramel deserts. Big thank you to Frans Indongo Lodge for hosting & feeding us the last couple of nights. 10/10 experience. Cannot wait to come back.

🧱

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

Day 40 of running the entire length of Africa. Angola soon🇦🇴🤝

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

#ProjectAfrica Day 38: 52.4km

Proper days graft out there. Back to basics. Get out the door. Break the numbers down. Make it happen. However it needs to happen.

Body ain’t all there right now. Feeling weak. Looking weak. Lost a lot of weight recently.

Game plan for the next week is to only drink out of sealed bottles and only eat things that are 100% not gonna come with violence to the digestive system. Good times will come back around. Just gotta weather the storm.

Drove back to Windhoek tonight with the boys for more visa work at the embassies. Expecting a big impact to tomorrows run but we don’t do rest days out here. Will get about it as much as I can🫡

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

#ProjectAfrica Day 37: 43km

Not pretty out there. Spent half the night on the bog. Knew it was gonna be a big ask today.

Set up like prime Mourinho in champo league semis. Tight at the back. Nothing silly. Get the 0-0 away from home and we’ll create magic in the return leg.

What that actually translates to is; plug up with Imodium. Pack plenty of baby wipes. Hope for better day tomorrow.

Truth is my body is feeling pretty mash up. Don’t even feel properly recovered from first illness yet. Wicked game.

Got about it as much as I could. Strongest headwinds of the trip. All day long. Relentless. Respect to Mother Nature for the humbling beat down.

37 days in and 2 illnesses that have hit me for 6. Not a fantastic ratio if I’m honest. Still believe. Always believe. Banging it till the bitter end. See you in Tunisia🫡

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

Day 38 of running the entire length of Africa💨

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

Day 36 of running the entire length of Africa 🫡💩

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

#ProjectAfrica Day 33: 45km

Wow. One of them days where I just feel proud to be human. The energy on the road was INSANE. These guys know all about the 1’s & 2’s.

I spend so much time running alone I sometimes forget the power of running together, it’s so intrinsically human it makes me feel ALIVE like nothing else.

Huge thank you to all the Namibians who have shown so much grace and kindness to us today and throughout all of our time here so far.

Truly a blessing to have the opportunity to share the tarmac in your beautiful country. I hope to take the overwhelming positivity shown to us and spread it as far as I can throughout the African continent.

🫡

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

Day 33 of running the entire length of Africa. Incredible support out here today🫡🇳🇦

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

#ProjectAfrica Day 32: 50.3km

Namibia. Some place🇳🇦 Gonna go bold and say this is the friendliest country I’ve ever been to.

Rolling with a big crew today. Melting pot of elite vibes. Taken in tonight by another bunch of legends. Big old brai cook up and a hot shower. Even came through with ice cream for desert. These guys know how to get me going.

Running through Windhoek tomorrow. Will be at the airport in the city around midday if there is anyone here that wants to come say hi or keen for some 1’s and 2’s on the B1.

Hope you’re all having a great week so far gangstas🫡

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

Day 32 of running the entire length of Africa. Todays message courtesy of a true icon Sir Mo Farah🫡

[Russ Cook @hardestgeezer]

Hey @netflix I got something for you. Let’s make it happen🤝 #ProjectAfrica