Handler Profile - Nik Cook

Country: UK

My Dogs

Nik contacted CSJ recently to say he loves CSJ products for his dogs Moses and Otso.

Achievements

La 6000D:
Nik’s currently training for ‘La 6000D La Course des Geants’ - a 65 km foot race with over 4000 metres of ascent in the French Alps, starting and finishing at La Plagne.
6633 Ultra

In March 2010 Nik took on the epic challenge of the 6633 Ultra - a 120 mile non-stop Arctic race run pulling a pulk.6633 is the latitude of the Arctic Circle that competitors cross after 26 miles. In temperatures as low as -35C Nik won, setting a new course record of 38 hours and 59 minutes.

Powerman, Malaysia:
In November 2009, Nik competed in the Powerman Duathlon in 90% humidity and 38C. He finished up amongst the seasoned pros, placing 20th overall, 4th non-elite and 4th in age-group, qualifying for the World Championships. His ‘Coached to Perfection‘ series for 220 Triathlon recorded his training with top level sports coaching and physio support to see how far he could push himself in a year. The year’s other challenges included the Merrell Mudman duathlon (3rd), Fred Whitton Cyclosportive (112 miles / 15,000 ft ascent 7:03), Paris-Roubaix Cyclosportive (160 miles incl 25 miles cobbles 8:55) & the Trans-Wales mountain-bike 7-day stage race.

Biography

Nik contacted CSJ recently to say he loves CSJ products for his dogs Moses and Otso and would like to put a review of the products in one of the numerous magazines he writes for.

Ceri (CSJ’s owner) replied that, having looked at Nik’s website: www.nikalascook.com, she needed a sit down to recover!  Where does he get all his energy from!

Nik & CSJ

Nik’s dogs are fed on CSJ’s CP 24 food and Fruit’n’Mutt energy bars.  Together with Nik and two friends, Otso, his 2 year old Finnish Lapphund recently completed a 39 km ‘Difficult Trailblaze Challenge’ in a record time of 5 hours 34 minutes and 21 seconds (knocking almost half an hour off the previous record).

Trailblaze is a ‘do anytime’ challenge for runners who like the rough stuff but not the crowds and constraints of races and it has a network of electronic check points on National Trails.  More information about the sport can be seen at www.trail-blaze.com and Nik’s story in Ultrafit magazine about his and Otso’s record breaking run can be seen on 22-5_p18_Get_Out_There_proof.pdf

Publications Nik writes for

Features Editor - Ultrafit
Nik writes regular columns for the leading fitness magazine Ultrafit including ‘Get Out There’ and the back-page ‘Final Rep’ as well as gear tests.
220 Triathlon
Nik covers events, training advice and kit reviews for 220 Triathlon - the UK’s best-selling triathlon magazine. His series ‘Coached to Perfection’ charted his year training for the Powerman Duathlon.

Trek & Mountain
Trek & Mountain is the new magazine for hillwalkers, trekkers, climbers & mountaineers. Nik writes activity and sports profiles, fitness advice & kit reviews.

Cycling Plus (& Triathlon Plus)
Nik’s training & fitness advice, route descriptions & gear reviews can be read in Cycling Plus’ magazine and online at BikeRadar.com

Derbyshire Life
Nik’s articles for Derbyshire Life include his ‘A Day in the Life’ series including a Peak Park Ranger & Behind the Scenes at Chatsworth House. Other features include climbing & caving in the Peak District, Fly Fishing, Clay Pigeon Shooting, 4x4 Driving, The Kinder Mass Trespass and 6 men in a Yurt.

Daily Mail

Nik analysed six popular gym-based classes & trained his much-less-fit sister Sophie to try them out & give her verdict.

Times Travel Online
In January 2009 Nik tackled Morocco’s Mount Toubkal (4,167m) the highest peak in North Africa. He went with travel experts, The Adventure Company.

Financial Times
Nik profiles the sport of fell running and describes his first race, The Kinder Downfall.

Planet Fear
Planetfear.com is the leading website for adventure sports. Nik kept a blog diary about his 6633 Arctic race and writes gear reviews on everything from fell shoes to waterproofs.

Other publications

Men’s Fitness, GQ, Runner’s World.

See more photos and info about Nik and his adventures at: www.nikalascook.com