Kelowna Runner Goes Barefoot for 50km After Broken Neck
Two years after an F-150 crash left her with a broken neck and doctors saying her athletic career was over, Savannah Wild is attempting a Guinness World Record for the fastest 50km barefoot run. The Kelowna ultra-endurance athlete needs to finish in under seven hours on May 18 in Vernon.
When doctors told Savannah Wild her athletic career was finished after breaking her neck in 2024, she had other plans.
The Kelowna-based ultra-endurance athlete will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest 50 kilometer barefoot run on May 18. She'll be running without shoes for the entire distance at Greater Vernon Athletics Park, starting at 8 a.m.
Wild was hit by an F-150 truck less than two years ago. The crash broke her neck and left medical professionals convinced she'd never compete again.
"I was told athletics was off the table," Wild said. "I've always liked proving people wrong."
She returned to competition within months of her accident. Now she's chasing a world record that requires her to complete 50 kilometers in under seven hours, all while running completely barefoot.
The attempt is expected to wrap up between 1:30 and 2 p.m. Community members are welcome to come cheer her on throughout the day.
Wild isn't new to extreme challenges. She competed at the Age Group 70.3 World Championships and has tackled multiple ultra-endurance events, including a 25-hour continuous run and a 300-kilometer ultra-triathlon.
After her recovery, she founded Sav Athletics, a coaching practice focused on athletic development and mindset work. She now helps other athletes push past their own perceived limitations.
Why This Inspires
Wild's story shows what's possible when someone refuses to accept the limits others place on them. Her journey from a broken neck to a world record attempt in less than two years proves that medical setbacks don't have to define your future.
Her coaching practice now shares those lessons with other athletes facing their own challenges. What started as one woman's determination to prove doctors wrong has become a mission to help others rewrite their own stories.
Whether or not she breaks the record on May 18, Wild has already achieved something remarkable: turning a career-ending injury into the starting line of her greatest challenge yet.
Based on reporting by Google: athlete breaks record
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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