A student who used running to find "a more positive way of living" ended his time at the university with an ultramarathon.
Viet-Anh Tran, a 22-year-old Romanian woman, ran laps along the Bristol Portway, covering a distance of 60 miles (96 point 5 kilometers).
Prior to arriving in the UK to pursue his studies in computer science, the University of Bristol student hardly ever exercised.
He claimed that it "started to really help my mental health, so I just kept going.".
He made the decision to accept the challenge after logging 3,200 kilometers (2,800 miles) of running along the Bristol Portway during his three-year degree.
Running frequently and living in Bristol have enabled Mr. Tran to discover meaning in his life and learn to love himself for who he is.
The Vietnamese expat family raised the 22-year-old in Romania.
He frequently assumed adult responsibilities as his family's top Romanian speaker, which made him "grow up fast.".
His teachers at the secondary school he attended in Romania predicted he would receive poor grades.
He was consequently turned down by every university he applied to, so he made the decision to spend six months hitchhiking from Amsterdam to Armenia.
To his surprise, when his grades were revealed, he had received excellent marks. After learning about the University of Bristol from fellow travelers in Turkey, he successfully applied.
"Everything is so beautiful," he remarked, "that was my first impression when I arrived in Bristol. ".
Mr. Tran claimed that he went through some trying times while living as a minority in Romania, which caused him to "bottle-up emotions," but that he discovered a more optimistic way of life through "running and the help of others.".
Ultra-marathons, also known as ultras, are races that last longer than the traditional 26.2-mile (42.1) marathon distance.
When I finished, I couldn't believe it and felt incredibly proud of myself, Mr. Tran said.
He continued, "I've made wonderful friends here, and this city has helped me grow into the best version of myself.
