Runner Breaks Barefoot 50K Record 2 Years After Broken Neck

When doctors told Savannah Wild her athletic career was over after breaking her neck in a cycling crash, she had other plans. The 27-year-old from Kelowna, British Columbia, just ran 50 kilometers barefoot around a track faster than any woman in history.

Wild clocked 5:08:11 at Greater Vernon Athletics Park on Sunday, crushing the Guinness World Records requirement by nearly two hours. She needed to finish within seven hours but powered through in just over five.

The crash happened in 2024 when an F150 struck Wild while she was cycling, leaving her with a spinal cord injury. Medical professionals told her competitive athletics were no longer possible.

"I was told athletics was off the table," Wild said before the run. "I've always liked proving people wrong. The barefoot world record attempt is my answer to that."

Barefoot running isn't new territory for Wild, who works as an ultra-endurance coach through her company Sav Athletics. In 2021, she completed a 500-kilometer barefoot run that launched her into ultra-distance racing. She's also finished a 300-kilometer ultra-triathlon and has been running ultramarathons for more than five years.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is her training preparation. Wild accumulated only about 10 kilometers of barefoot running out of thousands of training kilometers this year while focusing on other races.

"I am yet again amazed at the power of the mind and body," she told Canadian Running after the attempt.

The track surface provided some relief compared to pavement, helping her avoid the stress fractures she faced during her 500K run. Still, the experience tested her limits. "Nearing the end, it did feel like glass," Wild shared with The Chilliwack Progress.

Running on a track meant fuel, fluids, and first aid stayed close by throughout the attempt. The clock never stopped running during any breaks.

Why This Inspires

Wild's record demonstrates something bigger than athletic achievement. Her journey from a hospital bed with a broken neck to a world record podium in less than two years shows what becomes possible when determination meets community support.

Supporters surrounded Wild throughout the run, collecting witness reports, timing records, and video evidence required for Guinness ratification. Their presence transformed what could have been a solo endurance test into a collective celebration.

"The day was a beautiful testament of strength and community," Wild says. "Although I was the only runner, there was nothing solo about this attempt. Find your people, choose your challenge, and then just have fun."

Wild isn't slowing down: she's tackling the Canadian Death Race in Grande Cache, Alberta, this August.