Peter worked so hard on his PhD

[Bassim]

Have I made any mistakes?

Peter worked so hard on his PhD theses shortly before he was due to defend it and would stay awake long after everyone had been asleep. In the morning, he was bleary-eyed and exhausted as if he were marching the whole night.

 

[Tarheel]

Have I made any mistakes?

Peter worked very hard on his PhD thesis shortly before he was due to defend it, and he would stay awake long after everyone else had gone to sleep. In the morning, he was bleary-eyed and exhausted as if he had been marching the whole night.

That's not good.

 

[Tdol]

Is marching the ideal verb for this context?

 

[Tarheel]

What might be better?