Who is Bob Brown, and Why Did he Run Across Europe?

A long distance endurance runner from West Cornwall has set a new world record for running across the European Union.

An elated Bob Brown, who is originally from Sennen and whose parents live in St Just, finished his epic 3,000-mile run across Europe from the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal to the Russian border in 54 days, six hours and 40 minutes.

But the 36-year-old, who had previously taken part in coast to coast endurance events in Australia and America, said the European run was the hardest of his life.

He had to endure blistering heat during a European heatwave, plus thunderstorms and torrential rain.

He also had to continue running, even after receiving a leg injury, early on in the run, which threatened to end his record-breaking attempt, even before it began. "But the real battle has been the psychological element of the run," said Bob. "To run 55 miles a day is asking a lot of your body, but you learn to manage and control elements of the pain, whereas the mental side of the run is a lot harder to control and has at times been a massive struggle for me."

Bob's parents, Vic and Margaret Brown, of South Place, St Just, flew out to encourage their son on part of his run. Both mum and dad are long distance runners themselves and ran part of the route alongside Bob.

Bob's wife, Aimee, who is a school teacher in Callington, also cycled some of the distance with her husband.

Bob, who now lives near Callington, arrived back in Cornwall yesterday. "He is exhausted but very relieved to be finished after having run 55 miles every day for nearly two months," said one of his support team this week.

"Bob wishes to thank his sponsors Ginsters for their fantastic and continued support. He has run through nine countries, lost two stone in weight and worn out nine pairs of trainers!"

Over the last five years Bob has proved himself one of the world's finest endurance runners.

He recently won "The Race of Fire" endurance run across Australia and competed in a run from Los Angeles to New York. Bob also won this year's Tresco Marathon and the Grand Union Canal Race.