From Badwater to Santa Monica – Red Bull’s Arda “Cyborg” Arda Saatçi Runs 600 Kilometers in 96 Hours
At first glance, Red Bull’s Arda Saatçi doesn’t look like a distance runner.
- No, scratch that. He’s not a distance runner; he’s an extreme ultra runner, logging hundreds of kilometers in one go.
But looking at him, one would think he’s a bodybuilder or perhaps a professional CrossFitter. He’s a hybrid athlete – the trending phrase personified.
Known for extreme endurance challenges of all kinds, Saatçi also spends substantial time in the gym training for fitness and can knock out 1,000 (strict) pull-ups in under two hours.
In 2024, he ran from his hometown of Berlin to New York City. (His route took him from Berlin, Germany, to Porto, Portugal. He then flew to Boston, MA, where he finished his run to New York, NY.) Covering approximately 3,000 km, he completed the project in 74 days, logging a marathon, or sometimes two, each day.
The following year, he ran the length of Japan from north to south, a distance of about 3,000 km. This took him 43 days, during which he averaged 25-50 miles per day.
On May 5, he’s ready to take on something new: he’ll run 600 kilometers in 96 hours, from Badwater through the Mojave Desert and Los Angeles, ending at the Santa Monica pier. The entire endeavor will be livestreamed on Saatçi’s YouTube channel and on RedBullTV.
Saatçi’s “Why”
The question that first arises when meeting someone like Saatçi is “why?”
What motivates a person to take on something so brutal, knowing that injuries are likely and, at the very least, struggle and misery are guaranteed? There must be something bigger at play.
For Saatçi, it’s not just about physical strength but also about mental and emotional strength. He promotes mental resilience and pushing beyond artificial boundaries. He shared with us that his “why” is simple, but it runs deep.
- “I want to explore where my limits actually are, and then go past them. A lot of people think limits are fixed. I don’t believe in that, and I think they’re negotiable. And beyond that, I know there are people watching who might be stuck in their own lives, doubting themselves, and if I can show them what is possible, then you fully commit mentally and physically,” Saatçi told The Morning Chalk Up.
He continued, “This is bigger than just a run; it has become something shared with the people.”
And he’s referring to people in the millions. Saatçi’s Instagram account boasts over 1.2 million followers. But next week, not only will many of his followers be watching, but so will those from the Red Bull accounts and everyone checking in on the livestream.
A big audience to share in success, but also in potential failures. Not to mention all the people he’s inviting in to share in something very personal, full of unknowns and major vulnerability.
- “I choose that in this way,” Saatçi told us, “I want people to see the full reality of the hours, the struggle, the setbacks, the internal battles with my moments when I am fighting with all my mind. And that’s what I stand for – not just showing the polished outcome, but everything it actually takes to get there, all possible scenarios included.”
When asked whether Saatçi has any doubts heading into feats of this magnitude, he was very matter-of-fact and candid.
- “Of course I have doubts. Anyone who says that they don’t, before something like this, is lying or they haven’t understood the challenge. And the difference is that I don’t try to eliminate doubts; I accept them. I fall back on structure, the next step, the next kilometer, the next mile, the next hour. You just break something overwhelming into something manageable. And I remind myself, I chose this, so I am responsible for finishing it,” Saatçi said.
About Eating and Sleeping
Saatçi isn’t taking on this run (“run” seems such a diminutive word for what he’s setting out to accomplish) without massive preparation.
He’s taking into account his precise nutrition, hydration, and rest needs, but is allowing room for things to go slightly askew and will be listening closely to his body in real time.
- “We have a very specific plan, thanks to the team. Calorie intake, hydration, timing, and everything is structured. Over the full 96 hours, I will take in around 60,000 calories, or so. Fueling isn’t just important; it’s critical to keep the body going. But intuition plays a huge role,” Saatçi says.
Nutrition-wise, Saatçi went on to say, it’s all about keeping the engine running. He’ll focus on quick carbs, electrolytes, rice-based meals, and protein at different phases. Also, can I circle back to the 60,000 calories he’ll be consuming? Let that sink in. Okay, moving on.
As for rest and sleep, Saatçi has planned 10-20-minute naps and a longer 90-minute sleep at some point. As with his nutrition, he will also rely partially on how he feels and his needs in the moment.
Saatçi’s Training and Preparation
Back to Saatçi’s physique. As a ‘fitness cyborg’, we already mentioned that Saatçi doesn’t exclusively train for running. He logs hours in the gym, focusing on fitness, and is dedicated to pre-hab and injury prevention.
- “My physique helps me stay resilient under stress. It allows me to handle impact, stay healthy, and keep moving efficiently even when everything hurts,” Saatçi said.
He shares that strength training is one of the most important things for a runner, not only for the physical aspect but also for the mental aspect.
Saatçi genuinely enjoys everything he does, and it’s one of the reasons he’s so successful. He loves running, swimming, calisthenics, and biking, and he aspires to be a model of the ultimate hybrid athlete who can do it all while staying healthy, in body and in mind.
Cyborg Season 2026
“Cyborg Season 2026,” the title of Saatçi’s run next week, coined by Red Bull, kicks off on Tuesday, May 5, and will be available on Red Bull TV and Saatçi’s YouTube channel.
A continuous 96-hour livestream of running may not sound riveting at first glance. But my guess is that skeptics will be surprised. A substantial amount of struggle and surprises will come out of this, no doubt.
I want to see the joy, the pain, the setting, and the pace. What will his feet look like after two days? Will he start hallucinating at some point? (I hope not.) How many Red Bulls will he drink, and which flavors? How many socks will he go through? Will he brush his teeth at some point? What does the night sky in Batwater look like? I’m here for all of it.
