From Broken Ankle to Trail Runner: How Krista Parks Found Her Path in Endurance Sports

For Krista Parks, the journey into endurance sports didn’t start with a lifelong passion for running. In fact, it began with a broken ankle, multiple surgeries, and a 14-mile first run that led her to becoming a trail runner. by her own admission, wasn’t the smartest decision. But that’s exactly why her story resonates so powerfully with everyday athletes looking to find their way into the world of endurance sports.

Finding an Outlet

February 2022 marked the beginning of Krista’s running journey. Unlike many who ease into running with a couch-to-5K program or short jogs around the neighborhood, Krista approached her first run with characteristic determination.

“I’m a very stubborn person and I don’t always make the best decisions,” Krista admits with a laugh. “There’s a lake by me that has a path and it goes around the entire lake. I thought, ‘I’ll go five miles out, five miles back.’ Well, I got five miles out, and then I realized that turning around meant five miles back. So I had the wise idea to just do the whole thing. It was almost 14 miles.”

This ambitious first attempt at running—which she completed mostly by walking—might seem extreme, but for Krista, it represented something more important than physical fitness. It was about finding an outlet and doing something solely for herself after going through a difficult period in her life.

“I was in need of an outlet,” she explains. “I was involved in photography and motorsports media at the time, but there was just a lot of stuff going on that was bringing me down. So I needed to do something for me, not for everybody else.”

Overcoming Physical Challenges

What makes Krista’s journey even more remarkable is that she started running after recovering from a serious injury. Two years before her running journey began, Krista broke her ankle while hiking but somehow didn’t stop her from pursuing becoming a trail runner.

“I broke it in two spots while hiking up a mountain,” Krista recalls. “I just misstepped and my foot slipped on a rock.”

The recovery process was grueling. Krista underwent multiple surgeries: first to insert a plate and screws, then to repair a torn meniscus that had been overlooked, and finally to remove the hardware when her ankle wasn’t healing properly.

“I was off my feet for a very long time,” she says. “My leg was much smaller than what it was. There was no muscle or fat because I hadn’t been on it. Lots of physical therapy took place and I am not a fan.”

Despite these challenges—or perhaps because of them—Krista found her way to running. She sees her experience as proof that anyone can take up endurance sports, even after significant setbacks.

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Learning Through Setbacks

Like many new athletes, Krista has experienced her share of obstacles along the way. After that first ambitious 14-mile attempt, she recognized the need to step back and approach training more systematically.

“I bit off more than I could chew and decided to step back and start all over again,” she explains. “I’ve done that a couple times with my running over the couple years because I had some direction but not much. So a lot of it’s been trying to figure everything out on my own.”

This trial-and-error approach has been a consistent theme in Krista’s running journey. Rather than following influencers’ advice blindly, she prefers to learn through experience, even when that means making mistakes.

“I am stubborn. I like to figure stuff out on my own,” she admits. “I’m one of those people where if I have a question I’ll ask, but otherwise let me figure it out.”

Embracing the DNF (Did Not Finish)

One of the most powerful lessons Krista has learned came through experiencing her first DNF (Did Not Finish) at a night race. Rather than seeing it as a failure, she used it as an opportunity for growth.

“That first DNF last year humbled me a lot,” Krista shares. “It was a night race. The trail was all rock. And I still have a fear because of my broken ankle.”

During the race, Krista discovered her headlamp had accidentally turned on in her bag and drained its battery. Faced with the prospect of navigating rocky terrain in the dark, she made the difficult but wise decision to stop.

“That drive home kind of let me have my temper tantrum and go through those emotions of having that first DNF. That one’s hard,” she says. “It humbled me because it showed me that if I need to stop, no matter how mad it’s gonna make me, I need to keep in mind that as long as I’m doing it for a good reason, it’s okay.”

This experience taught Krista an important lesson about priorities—safety first, pride second. It’s a message that resonates with many everyday athletes who struggle with the line between pushing through discomfort and knowing when to stop.

Running as a Therapeutic Tool

Perhaps the most significant impact running has had on Krista’s life isn’t physical at all—it’s mental and emotional. For her, running has become a form of therapy that helps her manage PTSD without medication.

“Running has actually calmed me down a lot,” Krista explains. “I have PTSD, and running helps.”

The mental clarity that comes during her runs has also helped Krista make important life decisions. One of the most significant was leaving a job that was making her unhappy.

“I had a job with a really good position and good pay, but I wasn’t happy,” she recalls. “Running one day and it dawned on me to resign because the job was just so mentally draining. At the moment, I didn’t care how hard I ran or if I stopped. What I needed on that day was a release to clear my head. The next day, I went into work  and I quit the job. I’ve been very happy since.”

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Finding Community and Purpose

As Krista has become more involved in the running community, she’s been inspired by the way endurance athletes use their sport to raise awareness for causes they care about.

“The people that I’ve come across and the reasons they do it—it’s amazing,” she says. “You don’t see that in a lot of sports.”

She mentions athletes who have run across the country to raise money for mental health initiatives, something that resonates deeply with her own experiences.

“I’m a very big advocate because sadly I’ve known eight men that have died by suicide,” Krista shares. “When I see runners advocating for mental health awareness, I find it to be uplifting.”

The Road (or Trail) Ahead

As for what’s next, Krista has discovered a preference for trail ultras over road marathons—a somewhat unconventional choice for a newer runner.

“I’ve never had a desire to run a marathon,” she admits with a laugh. “I did a 50K ultra attempt back in November. I would rather do a 50K ultra before a marathon. I’ve done a half marathon, but running longer than a half marathon on the road I find to be boring .”

Looking ahead, Krista is considering a move from Oklahoma, with running playing a major factor in her decision. She’s leaning toward locations that will allow her to pursue more trail ultras while still having access to road races for variety.

“I do kind of want to go more that trail ultra direction, but still have it where I can go do some 5Ks, 10Ks, or maybe at some point doing another half marathon,” she says. “They’re fun. It’s a different vibe. They’re both running, but it’s almost like two different worlds.”

Finding Your Own Path

Krista’s journey into endurance sports offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to start their own adventure. Her story shows that you don’t need a background in athletics to find success and joy in running. You just need to be willing to try, learn from your mistakes, and keep moving forward.

For Krista, running has become much more than just physical exercise. It’s a tool for mental health, a catalyst for personal growth, and a way to connect with a community that values perseverance and mutual support.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, looking for a new challenge, or simply seeking an outlet for stress, Krista’s experience demonstrates that endurance sports can transform your life in unexpected ways. And while you might not want to follow her example of a 14-mile first run, her tenacity and willingness to learn from setbacks are qualities any aspiring athlete would do well to emulate.

As Krista puts it, running is “like a big puzzle, and you are the puzzle, and you start learning these little pieces of yourself.” The joy is in discovering those pieces one step at a time.

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