German runs 14 marathons in a row
This company benefits from the great spectacle
May 11, 2026 – 10:46 amReading time: 3 minutes
600 kilometers in 96 hours – runner Arda Saatçi didn’t manage that. But he still arrived at the finish line in Los Angeles and thereby fulfilled a promise.
In the end it took more than five days: Berlin runner Arda Saatçi reached his destination in the US state of California after more than 600 kilometers and 123 hours and 21 minutes. The 28-year-old reached the Santa Monica Pier near Los Angeles on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (local time), according to a live stream. The extreme athlete missed his ambitious goal of covering 600 kilometers in just 96 hours during his run in the USA.
Saatçi had to visibly pay tribute to the hardships. If the heart rate rose, it would go up for a few minutes before starting to run faster again. Shortly before the finish, the runner ran at an impressive speed of around six minutes per kilometer. His average speed at the end was more than 12 minutes per kilometer. Fans kept appearing along the way to encourage him. Some also accompanied the Berliner on his run.
“I didn’t even know what to say. I’m deeply touched, incredibly grateful. It’s a huge privilege to be able to experience this here,” said Arda Saatçi to “Bild”. “Some things you can’t explain. In my head it was just: No matter what – even if the kneecap pops out – just run for your life! Try to get everything in.”
In a post on Instagram, Saatçi previously announced that he was starting in Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California. At the end of the 96 hours on Saturday – in which he had covered a good 458 kilometers – he was disappointed and at the same time combative: As he walked, he announced that he would finish the job, no matter how. His mother was waiting for him at the finish, he said. He promised her that he would go out for ice cream with her on Mother’s Day. “I’ll keep that promise too.” As shown in the live stream, the route ended up being 604.5 kilometers long due to detours. An incredible success – from which Red Bull in particular should benefit.
The Austrian brewery company used the event to further strengthen its brand. Red Bull has relied on sport as part of its marketing strategy for years. Motorsport teams, football clubs, extreme sports events and their own media company pursue a common goal: to generate as much attention as possible for the brand.
