Ultramarathoner Arda Saatçi Faced Heat Stroke and Hallucinations While Livestreaming 372-Mile Run to Millions (Exclusive)

Arda Saatci in Death Valley
Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

To prepare, Saatçi spent 10 months training, combining long-distance running with strength workouts. As part of his preparation, he ran marathons daily for weeks at a time, experimented with sleep deprivation training and pushed his body to adapt to extreme endurance conditions.

“I would do night runs, stay awake for 24 hours and then run a marathon just to understand how my body reacts in those situations,” he says. “I wanted to improve how my body handled the lack of sleep, the food intake and the long hours.”

Still, despite the extensive preparation, Saatçi says he felt nervous heading into the challenge because it pushed him into completely unfamiliar territory.

“I had a lot of emotions and nerves going into this challenge because it was a totally new situation for me,” he says. “My body never really knows what's going to happen when I'm running for that many hours without sleep, dealing with those elevations, the heat and everything out there.”

Arda Saatci during the run
Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

Adding to the pressure, the entire experience was livestreamed around the clock — something Saatçi says was also difficult to adjust to. “Having a camera in my face for 96 hours, or more than 100 hours, was definitely something I had never experienced before," he says.

According to details shared with PEOPLE, Saatçi's run began on May 5 at Badwater Basin in Death Valley and ended five days later at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles.

In total, he covered more than 604 kilometers — the equivalent of more than 14 marathons — while climbing nearly 6,000 meters in elevation. But around mile 200, the challenge took a dangerous turn.

“The hardest point of the run was when I got a heat stroke,” Saatçi recalls. “In combination with the hallucinations, it was a situation my body had never known before.”

Saatçi says his team quickly stepped in to regulate his body temperature and help him recover before he pushed forward again.

“I got a quick nap for 20 or 30 minutes, and then I continued and got the miles in,” he says.

Throughout the challenge, Saatçi says he survived on very little sleep — logging only seven to eight hours total across the entire 123-hour run. To keep his body fueled, he consumed tens of thousands of calories, relying heavily on carbohydrates, electrolytes, and high-calorie snacks.

“Everything that has a lot of calories,” he says with a laugh. “Cakes, waffles — all the good things.”

Arda Saatci getting his foot checked during the run
Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

Despite the physical exhaustion, Saatçi says he spent much of the run focused internally rather than distracting himself with music.

“Most of the time, I keep in touch with my inner voice,” he says. “I talk with myself to keep the motivation high and remind myself why I'm doing these things.”

Although thousands of people tuned in to watch the livestream on social media, Saatçi says he intentionally avoided learning how many viewers were following along in real time so he could stay mentally focused.

“After the run, when I saw how many people were supporting it, I felt very grateful,” he says. “Maybe people can take motivation from it for their own lives — not only for sports, but for work, school or university.”

Arda Saatci at the finish line
Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

Still, the most emotional moment came at the finish line, where his mother was waiting for him with a promise they had made before the race.

“Before the run, I promised her we would eat ice cream together on Mother's Day if I crossed the finish line,” Saatçi says. “When I saw my mother standing there with the ice cream behind her, my heart was blowing up. We cried together.”

Arda Saatci with his mom at the finish line
Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

Now recovering from inflammation in his hips and knees, Saatçi says he's spending his days resting, eating well and soaking up time with family before preparing for whatever challenge comes next.

“I always say it's you versus you,” he says. “Focus on yourself, give your best every day and never give up.”

Read the original article on People