Karen Sparks

Karen Sparks is a trail runner, nonprofit founder, race organizer, athlete, coach’s kid, and mom living in Texas. In 2022, she founded the nonprofit the Great Root Movement, in honor of her two children Reagan and Grant, who were murdered by their father in an act of spousal revenge filicide in 2015. Her nonprofit supports bereaved women and survivors of domestic abuse through mental health resources, therapy scholarships, and a running/walking support group.        

Since 2016, Karen has completed 32 races, including three 100K races, two marathons, nine half-marathons, and two 100-mile ultramarathons including one in 2020 in honor of Reagan and Grant. Since 2022, she has become a race director, organizing an annual trail run through her nonprofit. She has also run as a pacer and crew member in seven races, including the Badwater 135 ultramarathon in Death Valley and the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon in Arizona.

As a community leader, Karen is committed to supporting women recovering from trauma of all kinds. By sharing her journey as a survivor of filicide, Karen opens the door for other survivors to run their healing races alongside her.