All the way from the Gold Coast by foot - and still running
Run Port Douglas
One runner set to compete in the upcoming Run Port Douglas half-marathon has already travelled the long way around to make the starting line.
Distance runner Russ Cook was living on the Gold Coast up until the middle of last year when he decided to run from there to Cairns.
“I set off with the intention of running 40ks for 40 days,” Cook says.
This took him to just south of the city, but after arriving he decided he was not done yet.
“I just carried on afterwards.”
He ended up hitting the Blomfield Track and making it all the way to Cooktown before turning around and settling in Port Douglas.
He had remembered the beauty of the “miraculous” Captain Cook Highway from a journey north 12 years ago, where he also fell in love with Port Douglas.
“There are not many places in the world where you can watch the sunrise in the morning, walk 10 minutes, then watch the sunset in the evening,” Cook says.
The journey from the Gold Coast was a life-changing adventure, including almost getting completely lost in a state forest and meeting some amazing people on the way.
“Pretty much every single character that I met was good to me.
“The truckies are incredible, they all talk to each other,” he says.
“They kind of got to know me.”
Cook’s next big race will be Run Port Douglas on Saturday, September 13.
Who knows where the road will lead to after that, but for now he is just enjoying his Far North Queensland adventure.
“This is paradise,” Cook says.
For further details, go to runportdouglas.com.au.
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