Day 4246: Russ Cook and Sumo's Akebono.

 

   

"Strategies": marker, collage, digital.

 

  

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Click : Jacksons, Show You the Way to Go.

 

  

 

 

2GN2S

Russ Cook: ran the length of Africa

Russell Cook,  nicknamed "Hardest Geezer", has successfully run the full length of Africa, crossed the finish line in Tunisia in 352 days.

 

Mr Cook initially planned to run 360 marathons in 240 days, with no rest days

 

Before he set off on the mammoth challenge to run the entire length of Africa, he said he hoped to look back at his life and have no regrets. The 27-year-old from Worthing, West Sussex, said he had struggled with his mental health, gambling and drinking, and wanted to "make a difference". The ultrarunner said he has no fears about the challenge, having run from Asia to London in 2019 - completing 71 marathons in 66 days through 11 countries.

Russell Cook said he and his team had cameras, phones, cash and passports stolen in the incident in Angola

 

Running through 16 countries, he raised in excess of £700,000 for charity and has completed his final run. As he crossed the finish line at about 16:40 BST inRas Angela, Tunisia, Mr Cook was greeted by a shouting crowd, with many chanting "geezer"."I'm pretty tired," he told reporters and in a post on X. Mr Cook told those who had been following his journey to the finish line: "Mission completed." His initial plan to run from Tunisia to South Africa, completing 360 marathons in 240 days with no rest days, was soon halted by a lack of an Algerian visa - a hindrance that would later resurface. But after a last-minute switch, he set off on foot from South Africa's most southerly point on 22 April - a journey that would take him through cities, rainforests, mountains and the Sahara Desert.

Mr Cook and his team had cameras, phones, cash and passports stolen in Angola

After ticking off South Africa and Namibia in 50 days, Mr Cook encountered his first major setback - an armed robbery. On day 64 of the challenge, the team was approached by two men with guns who “demanded everything”, Mr Cook said. “First things first, we’re grateful to make it out alive,” he said. “We lost a few thousand quids worth of stuff which is a big problem for us, but we will endeavour to soldier on and get things sorted.” He was determined not to let the robbery ruin challenge or reputation of the country.

 

 “Almost everyone we’ve met in Angola has been really friendly and welcoming, so it’s a shame this happened, but c'est la vie,” he added. “It is a stressful and intense reality right now, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. “The police are doing what they can to help us and make sure this doesn’t happen again. We will make it.”

Consistently running more than a marathon a day began to take its toll. After some minor tummy troubles in the early weeks, he was forced to take his first rest day after doctors found blood and protein in his urine on day 45. But it was recurring back pain that caused the most concern. On day 200, Mr Cook was forced to reduce his mileage and intensity at the request of a doctor in Nigeria - even missing consecutive days on day 205 and 206. He said: "I took a couple of days to get some scans. No bone damage so figured the only option left was to stop mincing about like a little weasel, get the strongest painkillers available and zombie stomp road again.

Mr Cook’s social media appeal caught the attention of Elon Musk, who purchased Twitter - now called X -

Visa issues: After overcoming everything in his path, it was a single piece of paper - an Algerian visa - that cast doubt over the entire challenge on day 278. Mr Cook was forced to halt while he waited to find out his fate as to whether he could secure permission to cross the border into Algeria from Mauritania."If we don't get the visas, then it is game over," he said at the time. His public appeal video on X, formerly Twitter, was seen by 11 million people - even catching the attention of the site's owner Elon Musk, as well as MPs Tim Loughton and Alexander Stafford and the Home Office. The increased attention on the challenge eventually paid off as the UK's Algerian embassy announced he would receive a courtesy visa on the spot. The embassy said"You will get a multi-entry visa to allow you to cross Algeria through the province of Tindouf in order to pursue your charitable mission."Welcome to Algeria and good luck."

On day 241 of the challenge, Mr Cook ran 110.12km (68.4 miles) through Ivory Coast

 

On day 241, Mr Cook ran 110.12km (68.4 miles) through Ivory Coast, the equivalent of more than two marathon. He has vowed not to cut his hair or trim his beard until he has completed the challenge.

Mr Cook finished running the length of Africa on 7 April

The challenge is in aid of The Running Charity and Water Aid.

 

Mr Cook finished running the length of Africa on 7 April

Short 37 second video of the finish, here.

 

 

 

 

Again, I wondered what my update would be for today's blog, but when I opened my e-mail, a message from good friend, Mitchell, "Akebono RIP".

Akebono, a pioneering giant and ‘proud Hawaiian’ in sumo, dies at 54

Hawaii legend Akebono Taro, born Chadwich Haheo Rowan in Waimanalo, who made history when he became the first non-Japanese-born sumo wrestler to reach sumo’s h ighest title, has died after an illness.

He was 54.

Japanese media outlets first reported Akebono’s death and said he died after being admitted to a hospital in Tokyo. They listed the cause of death as heart failure.

 

He moved to Tokyo in the late 1980s and was an instant hit on the sumo circuit. Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 515 pounds in the prime of his career, he put together a resume just as impressive as his stature, winning multiple championships to earn the status of Yokozuna. During his reign, other Hawaii wrestlers would also become stars, including Konishiki and Musashimaru. Despite his star status, Akebono remained humble and true to his roots. 

“Throughout his 35 years in Japan, Akebono strengthened the cultural ties between the United States and his adopted homeland by uniting us all through sport.” Sincerest condolences to his family and friends and to sumo fans everywhere.

 

 

I was fortunate to get to see and hear him in Little Tokyo 12 years ago. I knew he was so big and strong, but I had greatly underestimated his intellect and humor. A good lesson for me. 

 

When answering questions from the audience, a young woman said she had seen him when she was in Japan and that she had reached out and touched him as he passed by. This was a common occurrence, for good luck. She asked when he had realized he was going to be really good at sumo? He said, once when he was on a sumo tour a pretty lady reached out and touched his arm as he passed by.

 

 

THROWBACK THURSDAY

15 minute video, Fumio Demura=Karate Master, here

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

A 5 minute video, Narcissus, here

 

 

 

  

Just because ...

 

 

Formosan Magpie

 

Thursday's Smiles ...