When I finished running the entire length of Africa, what really hit me wasn’t just the achievement, but the journey itself. It was a mad old mission — 386 marathons in 352 days — but the real takeaways were the little moments. Nigerian villagers keeping us safe, launching a social media campaign for help when we were stuck in the desert, even the Algerian president stepping in to allow our safe passage.
“When you’re pushing your body and mind to the absolute limit, your support vehicle becomes more than just transport. It’s your home, your sanctuary, and your base camp.”Russ Cook
Lessons from the Road
Those experiences showed me how important community is, how vital self-belief is, and why you should always keep pushing. They also taught me that when you’re pushing your body and mind to the absolute limit, your support vehicle becomes more than just transport. It’s your home, your sanctuary, and your base camp.
When we were in Africa, everyone was crammed into a van that, bless it, got us through. But I learned a lot about what was really needed. Above all, that’s a space where, no matter how chaotic it is outside, when I shut the door, it is like a home from home, with everything I need within arm’s reach.
“It’s absolutely blinding, with monster tyres, sleeping stations for three people, a pull-out kitchen, and even a hot water shower – a proper luxury in my world!”Russ Cook
More Than Transport
The ‘Hardest Wagon’ will be an essential member of my team for my Hardest Adventures, adventure and endurance experiences to tell the grandkids about. The guys from bloK Pod have taken the perfect vehicle — a Ford E-Transit1 — and converted it into the ultimate adventure wagon. I’m buzzing to have it and super grateful to everyone who has helped make this happen.
I’ve spent an unusual amount of my life living in vans, so I feel like I’m in a unique position to know what works and what doesn’t. The brief was simple but demanding. I needed a wagon that could go anywhere. It had to be a functional, full-time home for three people. There’s not just me to think about. There’s my crew as well.
Go Anywhere, Live Anywhere
Crucially, it needs a massive amount of battery power and solar panels to run our entire production operation. We’re making videos and content on the road all the time. And after a day of running or climbing, the number one priority is a comfy place to sleep.
This electric vehicle has all that and more. It’s even got an ice bath. I couldn’t get the smile off my face when I saw it in London for the first time — and then at Transit Festival, all kitted out. It’s absolutely blinding, with monster tyres, sleeping stations for three people, a pull-out kitchen, and even a hot water shower — a proper luxury in my world! It’s powered by an immense battery system, so we can charge our gear and stay connected wherever we are. It’s literally a home on wheels.
Adventures Ahead
This year, I’m focusing on some faster marathon times, but in between, we’ll be taking the Hardest Wagon on adventures all over the UK and Europe. First up, I’m really looking forward to getting it up and around the Eryri National Park, and then across to the Dolomites and the Alps.
I launched Hardest Adventures to help other people go on the adventure of a lifetime. The Hardest Wagon is the ultimate facilitator for that mission. It’s a home when I need it to be, a media unit when we’re editing, a pitstop, a happy place. It’s everything rolled into one.
Russ Cook is the Hardest Geezer
1 Up to 402 km driving range based on full charge of E-Transit with enhanced range option. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Figures shown are for comparability purposes and should only be compared with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. The actual range may vary due to various factors (e.g. weather conditions, driving style, route profile, vehicle condition, age and condition of the lithium-ion battery).
