Back in April, Russ Cook, aka 'Hardest Geezer', became the first person to run the entire length of Africa. 

Since then, thousands of people around the globe have sought to emulate Russ in their own personal capacity and "smash tarmac". Whether that be running, cycling, or some other form of outlandish challenge.

And who can blame them for getting inspired? The bloke ran 16,400 km through 16 countries for the better part of a year. 

The full list of countries Cook 'stomped':

  • South Africa
  • Namibia
  • Angola
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Cameroon
  • Nigeria
  • Benin
  • Togo
  • Ghana
  • Ivory Coast
  • Guinea
  • Senegal
  • Mauritania
  • Algeria
  • Tunisia

Some thought: "Wow", others questioned: "Why?".

You can bet that for the number of people who are truly impressed by Russ' incomprehensible achievement, there are just as many who try to bring him down. And I was one.

"He'll run anywhere but the job centre", became a popular phrase on Twitter that I am guilty of finding funny. Why? Well, it was because of the people who sprouted from the sand dune that is Russ' accomplishment.

'The worst person you know'

'The worst person you know' is now generally attributed to people attempting to be better than everyone else. Or at least, that is the perception.

Russ sparked a craze of people going beyond the couch to 5km, as half and full marathons became the norm. And, funnily enough, I'm guilty of that too.

Hypocrite, right?

Well, over time 5kms and marathons started to appear insignificant as people interpreted Russ' outlook as a means to get themselves in the history books, in any way shape or form.

I saw an Instagram athlete attempting to be the first man to carry a fridge up Mount Kilimanjaro, a man running the length of every tube station in London, a guy cycling to every Greggs in Wales, and someone else walking/rowing the length of the Thames.

For all I know there is a person out there bidding to become the first person to moonwalk from John O'Groats to Johannesburg in a tutu, I just haven't found them yet.

Seeing all this, I looked at myself in the mirror and realised bench pressing a washing machine at the top of Snowdon was somewhat beyond me, so I jumped on the bandwagon instead. My marathon couldn't compete.

"Turn it in", "Oh give over", "Have a day off". We are a country that is rooted in cynicism.

I gave in to hating 'the worst person you know' out of jealousy. What a sad little life Matthew.

But that thankfully didn't last long. As only recently, I realised that Russ had in fact inspired the people who needed it most. 

I stumbled across an account on Twitter called Thehullboy1. 

A young lad who openly discusses his struggles with mental health, he used Russ as an inspiration to make a change in his life. Not by deadlifting a SMEG atop a moving train, but by just getting out there and running.

Oh and boy has he been running, almost every day infact for the past few months. He caught the attention of Russ himself, who even went out on a 5km with him. Thehullboy1 intends to run a marathon soon with the Hardest Geezer himself.

I followed his journey and my feelings started to change. Then, I stumbled across another account, this time on TikTok.

@smuzzo day 1 of cycling from the UK to Australia. #smuzzo #bikepacking #cycling ♬ Stubborn Love - The Lumineers

Smuzzo, or Sam, is hoping to cycle from the UK to Australia and he himself concedes he's 'not a cyclist'. He's just a young lad who has also had a torrid time with mental health and wants to change that and explore the world.

Unlike, Thehullboy1, I can't say for sure whether Russ inspired him, but I bet it's had a little impact.

I mentioned cynicism earlier, and it's proved by the comments on the video above. The top comment, with 5239 likes, reads: "Australia.? You'd be lucky to get as far as Dover".

He's currently in Croatia.

In this day and age, the younger generation has slim pickings in terms of role models.

You have ‘Speed’, a young TikToker who is famous for barking at people. Only Fans models who, when they're not exploiting tragedies on Twitter for clicks, they're exploiting autistic youngsters on TikTok. And People, or ‘Begs’ who sit on a live stream all day asking members of the public to send them money, for doing absolutely nish. I saw former West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie playing the guitar for money the other day (on TikTok, I should add), shouldn't have pushed for QPR should you, Peter?

But my point is that Russ is arguably one of the best inspirations and role models out there today that positively affects people regardless of which way you pin it.

Yes, some extreme examples come across as a little vain, but most of these are still raising money for charities and not harming anyone. Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.

Stop hating on the 'worst person you know', because you'll eventually realise, it's you.