Boyd Glasgow Geezers won’t give Russ a run for his money
I’VE been loving reading about the “hardest geezer” Russ Cook and his epic 9940-mile run along the entire length of Africa in just 352 days.
The ginger-bearded legend surely has to have a film made about him?
I see him and just think of that scene in 1994 comedy-drama Forrest Gump... “Run, Forrest, run!” and, boy, did he do just that.
He faced so many challenges, not least the physical toll that must have taken on his body.
He was robbed at gunpoint at one stage but still that didn’t put him off completing his challenge.
It just makes you think what is possible and I have been completely inspired. I can barely run the length of myself at the moment but I am determined to get moving.
I’ve recently moved to a quiet countryside location so I am determined to pound the streets and fields in a bid to get in shape.
The locals will wonder what this mad woman is doing in garish Lycra.
It’s one way to introduce myself to the area.
It won’t be pretty but it will be good for me, physically and mentally.
And, while I doubt I will be running Africa any time soon – I’ll be lucky if I can run to the local shop – I am determined to do more.
I’m going to kick-start that with the Kiltwalk in a few weeks’ time.
It’s so funny. I must have done the 23-mile Mighty Stride Kiltwalk now about eight or nine times and every time my friends and I get to the finish line and say “never again”.
Your feet ache a little but it’s more the mental challenge. Towards the
end it gets relentless and feels like every mile marker gets further and further apart.
Well, regardless, two weeks from now, I’ll once again pull on my kilt to join my fellow STV buddies at the start line as we take on the challenge for the STV Appeal, raising money for children living in poverty in Scotland.
That by far outweighs our moans and groans along the way.
Thousands of people take part and the camaraderie sees you through. I am always so impressed by the range of people that do it and hats off to you if you are taking part. If you spot us, please, come say hello. We’ll have a great range of snacks we can share to see us all through. Glasgow to Loch Lomond may be a walk in the park for some like
Russ, but, on that day, us :Glasgow Geezers” are going to give it our all.
While I doubt I’ll be running Africa any time soon, I am determined to do more