Kelowna Athlete Aims to Break Barefoot Record After Crash

Less than two years after doctors told her she'd never compete again, Savannah Wild is preparing to run 31 miles without shoes.

The Kelowna endurance athlete was hit by a truck and broke her neck. Medical professionals said her days of competing were finished.

Wild had other ideas. She's now targeting the Guinness World Record for the fastest 50-kilometer barefoot run on May 18.

Her goal is 5.5 hours, which would shatter the current record by an incredible 2.5 hours. The attempt will take place at Greater Vernon Athletics Park starting at 8 a.m.

This isn't Wild's first time ditching footwear for extreme distances. In 2021, she completed a 500-kilometer barefoot run through Uganda, an experience she describes as "gruesome."

Her resume includes other remarkable achievements: a 25-hour continuous run and a 300-kilometer ultra-triathlon. But this upcoming record attempt carries special meaning.

Why This Inspires

Wild's journey from a devastating injury to a world record attempt shows what's possible when determination meets resilience. Being told your passion is over forever would crush most people.

Instead, Wild used those words as fuel. "I've always liked proving people wrong," she said. "The barefoot World Record attempt is my answer to that."

She's not sugarcoating what spectators will witness. "Come witness the magic (gore?) firsthand. It won't be pretty folks," Wild warned, inviting the community to join her at the track.

Five years after her Uganda run, Wild sees this attempt as honoring that earlier choice with "yet another wild ride." Her story reminds us that the only limits that truly matter are the ones we accept for ourselves.