Shakin put a sign in his pram after people in Australia would call the police thinking he was running with a baby in the heat. Photo/John Stone
Shakin put a sign in his pram after people in Australia would call the police thinking he was running with a baby in the heat. Photo/John Stone
Ruslan Shakin may have only started running four years ago but now he's running around the world.
The 38-year-old, is originally from Russia but was living in Los Angeles before he embarked on his travels. Four years ago, he decided to run a marathon so started training. He completed the marathon but his running has just taken off from there.
Last year when he ran 2746km from the northernmost point in Japan, down through five islands to the bottom in 53 and a half days.
About 10 days later he went to Australia, where he started in Perth on November 19 and ran 4470km to Sydney via Mount Kosciuszko, finishing on February 13.
"Our bodies are such a precise instrument and they can get used to it."
Shakin put a sign in his pram after people in Australia would call the police thinking he was running with a baby in the heat. Photo/John Stone
Shakin said he averages around 50km a day, pushing a pram, which weighs about 40kg, containing all of his supplies - water, tent, sleeping bag and other camping supplies.
He has no set finish date for New Zealand, besides having a 90 day visa.
"Japan I did it for me as a personal challenge, to see what I was capable of and also to experience the culture."
During his final two weeks in Japan he was listening to an audio book called Thirst which was about a charity called charity: water which works to provide clean water to everyone around the world.
That inspired him to carry on to Australia where his run raised funds for the charity. Half of the funds raised go toward the charity and the other half to his run.
"I met quite a few people from New Zealand when I was running in Australia and I wanted to run through it. From my experience running is the best way to experience a place."
Shoes last about 800km a pair and Shakin said the best thing about each of the countries he has been in are the people he meets and the scenery.
He has continued his fundraising efforts in New Zealand and his goal is to raise $10,000.
He is eyeing up a run from Santiago in Chile to Buenos Aires in Argentina if everything goes well.
