The exhausted Arda Saatçi.Image: Instagram
May 9, 2026, 9:02 p.mMay 9, 2026, 9:23 p.m
Covering 600 kilometers in 96 hours: The young Berlin runner Arda Saatçi did not achieve this ambitious goal. In the end, he managed a good 458 kilometers during his run in the USA within this time – around 142 kilometers less than required, as shown in a live stream.
At the end of the 96 hours, he was disappointed and at the same time combative: he said he had done his best and would never give up. As he walked he announced that he would finish the matter no matter what. Accordingly, he wants to continue walking to the Santa Monica Pier near Los Angeles.
Millions of followers
Thousands of people watched the 28-year-old’s run live via stream. They cheered him on and rooted for the athlete. The extreme athlete is followed by around 1.3 million people on YouTube alone and he has around 1.7 million followers on Instagram.
In a post on Instagram he announced that he was starting in Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California. After that the plan was to walk towards Los Angeles.
Saatçi’s ambitious plan
A huge team is involved in the young Berliner’s run. There are runners who take turns in shifts and film Saatçi while she runs. A physiotherapist takes care of Saatçi’s battered body. Friends and acquaintances provide moral support. Before the run, the extreme athlete stocked up on a huge amount of food.
In addition to the lack of sleep and the physical pain, the runner is particularly troubled by the heat along the running route. Saatçi is expected in his hometown of Berlin on May 15th. (sda/dpa)