Sichuan student's 79km home run goes viral

A 20-year-old student in Sichuan Province has run 79 kilometers from his college back home, in a challenge that took 9.5 hours, reports the paper.cn.

Sichuan University of Arts and Science Institute second year Physical Education student, Wang Lang, left his dormitory in Dazhou city at 3:30 a.m. on October 1.

A selfie taken by Wang Lang before setting off on his way home run challenge on October 1, 2017. [Photo: thepaper.cn]

He ran alone and baggage free, in sportswear with a waist bag, and guided by the GPS map on his phone, starting in the dark and in heavy rain.

After five kilometers he left the urban district behind and entered the mountain area, with no streetlights or passersby for 40 kilometers.

Wang admitted to journalists afterwards that he sometimes did feel "a panic fear."

"When I stopped to ask for directions or do some shopping, people would try to persuade me to stop running, but that never crossed my mind."

"You should hold on to what you love, and keep challenging yourself," said Wang.

Running app shows that Wang covered a distance of 79.18 kilometers, in a time of 9 hours and 28 minutes (which included pauses for food or rest) running between his university in Dazhou city and his hometown.[File Photo: thepaper.cn]

His running app shows he covered a distance of 79.18 kilometers, taking 9 hours and 28 minutes (which included pauses for food or rest along the way).

According to Wang, he got his enthusiasm for running from his father, who is also a keen runner and who has kept up his running for 35 years.

Father and son often rose at 4 or 5 a.m. to go running together.

Wang has signed both himself and his father up for a marathon, coming up in Guang'an, Sichuan Province, in October.

"The rankings don't matter, I just enjoy the time running with my father," said Wang.

Online comments have hail Wang's courage and persistence. Some tag their own friends, suggesting they might like to "try running home" some time.

Could you?