The Great Root Movement

The Great Root Movement The Great Root Movement is a community for women to be seen,heard,& loved through child loss & abuse. I know that I am rooted in love and hope exists there.

My name is Karen Ashley Sparks, on November 1, 2015, my children, Reagan (9) and Grant (8) were murdered by their father, who also committed su***de. It's been over 2,190 days since I've seen my children, heard their voices, their laughter, or been called "Mom". I reached a point in my grief journey where I thought my life pointless and would end. Through long-term therapy and running, I have been

reborn and found my identity and purpose. I'm here to share my story and help others like me. We believe that we are rooted in love and that our roots grow deep. We believe that "Movement is Life" = mentally and physically. Our organization is connected with a trusted group of therapists who are well versed in abuse, grief, bereavement, and trauma, as resources for those in need. Our community of experienced female runners and hikers are ready to run, walk, and talk, with anyone who shows up, no matter their level of experience. Our roots need nurturing to find our purpose and bear fruit. Moving, connecting, having access to resources, and being on the nature trails = healing. We love, move, and rize together.

Our 2026 LNE Cutlass Challenge LPS Champions! 🏆(DFL) 😜Heather Gothard and Sean Grady 🩷💙⚡️🌪️Due to weather conditions and...
04/27/2026

Our 2026 LNE Cutlass Challenge LPS Champions! 🏆(DFL) 😜
Heather Gothard and Sean Grady 🩷💙

⚡️🌪️Due to weather conditions and safety concerns it was a mutual decision to call it early on loop 14 with 52 miles! 💪🏽
I know they would have easily gone 24+ hours. Next time!! 👊🏽

💰Pot total: $262
Great pay day taking home $131/ea plus $25 gift cards from Trailhead Running Supply. 🙌🏽

Thank yall again for spending 13.5 hours with us! Epic experience and I can’t wait for the next one. This format is my favorite as a RD! 🫶🏽

And a special thank you to both of my Co-RD’s! To Nicole Chilson for making our DFL license plates! 😍 To Denny Hodge for all the drone footage and videos. You kept everyone updated on social media all day. What a gift to have such talented and giving friends in my circle. Love yall!

03/30/2026

To All The Great Root Trail Race 2026 Participants, Volunteers, and Sponsors:

Thank you for being part of the Great Root Trail Race this weekend. We hope you had an amazing time on the course and enjoyed the experience as much as we did putting the event together.

We are so grateful for your support of this race and for being part of the community that makes events like this possible. Your participation helps further the mission behind the Great Root Trail Race, and we truly appreciate each and every one of you. And a special thanks to our incredible group of sponsors and volunteers—we could not do this without you!

If you have any questions about results, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to seeing you again at a future event!

Together, we continue to LOVE, MOVE, RIZE.

Results are available online:

Race Results: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/175238/

You can search by name, view overall and age group placements, and see your official finish time.

Also, a big thank you to Ron Riddle for spending the day with us and taking great photos. What a blessing. Enjoy the album:

https://runsignup.com/Race/Photos/TX/Dallas/TheGreatRootTrailRace

🩷🩵🧡

💥Attention!💥Registration is open all week for The Great Root Trail Race this Saturday at Big Cedar Wilderness! Live and ...
03/23/2026

💥Attention!💥
Registration is open all week for The Great Root Trail Race this Saturday at Big Cedar Wilderness!
Live and virtual options are available!
Come join us! 🩷💙

The Great Root Trail Race is on Saturday March 7, 2026. It includes the following events: 11M, 22M, 33M, 11M Ruck, Virtual 11M, Virtual 22M, Virtual 33M, and Virtual 11M Ruck.

Think you've got what it takes? Come find out on April 25th! 🌲 THE LNE TRAIL SERIES Presents : CUTLASS CHALLENGE LAST PE...
03/17/2026

Think you've got what it takes?
Come find out on April 25th!

🌲 THE LNE TRAIL SERIES Presents :

CUTLASS CHALLENGE LAST PERSON STANDING
📍 Erwin Park — Cutlass Trail

One 4-mile loop. Every hour. On the hour.
Keep showing up. Last one moving wins.

💰 $45 entry + $1 ante per loop you start.
The pot grows with every loop — winner takes ALL.

Cutlass is Erwin Park's flattest, fastest section (~20 ft gain/loop).
This isn't about speed. It's about who refuses to stop.

✅ Water & ice provided
✅ Whiteboard check-in each loop — your mark = your miles
🪑 BYO chair, cooler & canopy (share with your crew!)
🍌 BYO fuel & nutrition
🚻 Restrooms at Pecan Grove Pavilion (down the hill)
🅿️ Parking & setup: See map on Runsignup
📸 Katie Durst

🎁 Stick around — we'll be giving away a few free race entries to our October Love Never Ends Trail Run!

❤️ Every dollar from this event benefits The Great Root Movement, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing hope, healing, and resources for women navigating grief, trauma, child loss, and domestic abuse. When you run, you rize — and you help others do the same.

The Cutlass Challenge Last Person Standing is on Saturday April 25, 2026.

14 days to go! We need participants! Let’s go!
03/14/2026

14 days to go!
We need participants!
Let’s go!

The Great Root Trail Race is on Saturday March 7, 2026. It includes the following events: 11M, 22M, 33M, 11M Ruck, Virtual 11M, Virtual 22M, Virtual 33M, and Virtual 11M Ruck.

03/05/2026

To all 2026 Participants and Volunteers of The Great Root Trail Race:

This was a difficult decision, and I’m disappointed to share it. After careful consideration, along with my co-race directors and our trail steward, we have decided to move The Great Root Trail Race to Saturday, March 28, 2026, due to inclement weather.
After checking the course and seeing today’s flooding and hail, along with the forecast for more severe weather, we decided to reschedule to keep everyone safe and protect the trails at Big Cedar Wilderness.
The location and all race times will remain the same.
We’ll keep you updated as the new date gets closer.
We know you may have questions, and we appreciate your patience as we work out the details. If you can't make it on March 28th, as the waiver states, there are no refunds. However, we can transfer your entry to the Love Never Ends Trail Run in October 2026. We’ll share more details about our October event soon.
Volunteers and participants, please save the new date: Saturday, March 28, 2026.
The rescheduled race on Saturday, March 28, 2026, will take place rain or shine.
Thank you for understanding. We can’t wait to see you out on the trails!
Love. Move. Rize.

* There is also virtual options available if you can’t make it March 28th. Let us know and we can help you with that. 🩷💙

03/03/2026

UPDATE!
We have just been mandated by The City of Dallas who holds the permit for our event, to make a race day decision by Thursday, 8:00am.

Also, for all participants and volunteers that are already signed up please go check your email and spam/junk folder. We sent out letters with all current race day info.

There is always hope! We want this to happen just as much as you! 🫶🏽 We will keep you posted.

🩷🪽💙🪽

03/03/2026

It’s Race week! 🙌🏽
And I just wanted everyone to know that we are watching the National Weather Service closely. I’m in close contact with the trail steward, Jeff at Big Cedar Wilderness. We are discussing things and will possibly make a decision by Thursday or Friday morning at latest if we need to reschedule. We are trying to wait as far out as we can because we all know weather can shift so fast. I know everyone needs time to cancel travel plans and hotel reservations. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
We need all the prayers that the storms will dissipate!! 🙏🏼 Amen!

Address

McKinney, TX

Telephone

+12146823292

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