Brian Armstrong: Breaks Guinness World Record

About Brian

Recent Ulster University Community Youth Work BSc graduate Brian Armstrong set a new world record by completing an incredible 50 half-distance triathlons in a year.

Brian told us that he left school with no qualifications, and then went on to transform his life.  Brian went to university and studied Community Youth Work BSc at Ulster University and is now a South Belfast Restorative Practitioner supporting local communities and, most notably, helping young people transform their lives.

How he did it

Brian went on an incredible journey and smashed the half-distance triathlon record by an impressive 26 events. In 2022 through this amazing challenge, Brian completed 60 miles in the water, 2800 miles on his bike and 655 miles running. He had three main elements for pursuing such an intense challenge:

1. To do the unimaginable and break the record by physically and mentally pushing himself.
2. To raise vital funding for Northern Ireland Alternatives (NIA): a government-accredited programme focusing on mental health and counselling services for vulnerable and at-risk groups.
3. Lastly, Brian wanted to inspire everyone who followed his journey. His message: you can achieve the impossible, the unimaginable, your dreams! No matter what your circumstances are, you can do it. You can do anything by putting your mind to it and surrounding yourself with the right people and the right community.

Why he did it

Brian said, “Exercise has been life-changing for me. I wanted to encourage those who doubt their ability to achieve goals in life by asking them to participate in this massive challenge and help me raise funds and awareness for this important cause. The challenge was not just physical. It also motivated normal people to realise they can do extraordinary things.”

Brian advocates for the benefits that physical activity can do for your mental health, including better sleep, more energy, and happier moods through endorphins. Exercise can also help reduce both anxiety and depression.

Get involved

Here are Brian’s 5 ways to help you get started on your fitness journey:

1. Start small – if you are starting from the very beginning starting small with a short walk or light jog is a good place to begin!
2. Everyday things count – take the stairs, park a little further away than you usually would, do some gardening; all these daily activities count as Exercise.
3. Get outside – there is nothing more rejuvenating than getting outside into the fresh air to clear your head; try to get outside for some exercise once a week.
4. Join a beginner’s class – if you don’t know where to start, find a beginner’s class at a gym that will talk you through it step by step.
5. Be kind to yourself – by taking even the smallest steps you are doing something great for your body and mind; take some time to appreciate what you are doing and reward yourself!

Visit Brian’s Facebook page to follow his journey.

Fancy having a go yourself?

Get fit and challenge yourself whilst raising valuable funds to support student mental well-being by signing up for the Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon.

Don’t forget, there is a range of support services available whenever you need them: ulster.ac.uk/wellbeing