Carissa Resek didn’t plan to run a marathon. She was just casually watching Harry Potter while jogging on her treadmill when she looked down and realized she had already run 18 miles.
So, what did she do?
“She never set out to run one,” her older brother Erick Resek said. “After finishing a Harry Potter movie on her phone during a run, she realized she had already logged 18 miles on the treadmill.”
Eight more miles didn’t sound so bad.
With nothing but tap water through a straw and a few mini muffins to fuel her, the 31-year-old from Kaysville, Utah, texted a few friends and family. Before long, they were by her side, cheering her on as she crossed the 26.2-mile mark, in five hours and 31 minutes.
And she did it all inside her house.
That moment, captured on video, quickly went viral. But Carissa’s story started long before that.
Born with Apert syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects the shape of her skull, face, hands, and feet, Carissa’s parents were once told she might never walk. She’s spent her life proving doctors wrong.
Now 31, she’s endured more than 40 major surgeries, including wearing a metal facial brace at age six. She still lives with recurring infections, sleep apnea, and other long-term challenges, but none of it has slowed her down.
“She loves watching movies while running, something she cannot do outdoors,” Erick said. “She’s raced a few local outdoor 5Ks, and you might spot her at a bigger event someday.”
Before this spontaneous marathon, the farthest Carissa said she had ever run was 13 miles. Still, she said she’s been a consistent runner for years, logging five to 10 miles a day, and her dedication kept her strong. She said she didn’t even feel sore the next morning, she woke up, did her laundry, and vacuumed her room like it was any other day.
“Now she says she wants to try again, with some more training and better shoes, and her goal is five hours and 15 minutes,” Erick shared.
But running is just one part of Carissa’s beautiful colorful life.
She’s the kind of neighbor who shows up at your door with a fresh batch of cookies. The one who fills the sidewalks with chalk messages of encouragement. The woman who works at a local daycare where the toddlers light up when she walks in.
Carissa has earned her culinary arts degree, holds a food handler’s permit, and helps out in the kitchen. She’s fluent in Spanish, has traveled Europe, and lived in Argentina for three years while her parents were on a church mission. She even completed her own service mission in Salt Lake City.
And yes, she’s swum with sharks, zipped through Hawaiian canopies, and conquered roller coasters, sometimes with a nudge, but always with heart.
“Our parents and us siblings have always treated [Carissa] as an equal and encouraged every ambition,” Erick said. “Sometimes she needs a nudge… but her own drive usually leads the way.”
Living at home surrounded by the people who adore her, including a squad of nieces and nephews who call her their favorite aunt, Carissa continues to redefine what’s possible.
Far from being limited by her diagnosis, Carissa Resek is a shining example of joy, determination, and grit. She’s not just a marathon runner, she’s a reminder that strength isn’t what you’re born with, but what you do with it.
And in Carissa’s case, it looks like 26.2 miles of pure inspiration.
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