Carissa Resek of Kaysville, Utah, is an inspiration when it comes to defying the odds. The 32-year-old has Apert Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes fusion of the bones of the skull, hands and feet, as well as other physical differences. But two weeks ago, Resek, who was once told she might never walk, became the first member of her family to complete a marathon, clocking 5 hours, 31 minutes–and to top it off, she did it on a treadmill.
@cariruns i did it! #marathon #treadmill ♬ Imploding The Mirage – The Killers
What is Apert Syndrome?
According to ChildrensHospital.org, Apert Syndrome, also known as acrocephalosyndactyly, occurs in every one in 65,000 to 88,000 births. “While individuals with the condition often share physical similarities, their capabilities and personalities vary widely,” Resek’s sister, Nalany Niederhauser, told Canadian Running. Resek has fused fingers and atypical foot structure, and throughout her life, has undergone 40 surgeries, including cornea transplants and reconstructive procedures.
Resek’s marathon
Resek first began running on a treadmill in 2018, and typically runs five to eight kilometres (three to five miles) every other day. The Utah native first set her sights on tackling the full 42.2K distance after randomly covering 21 km one day; her family and neighbours then encouraged her to attempt the marathon.
“Usually when I run, I go for an hour–and I can do five miles (eight kilometres) easily,” Resek said on TikTok, following her marathon run on June 21. But this particular day, the runner decided to watch Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which is two hours and 22 minutes long. “Once it was done, I was at 18 miles (28.8 km), so I just wanted to keep going,” Resek continued. “And no–I did not train for this, but since I’ve been running every now and then, I thought I was ready.”
Photo: Erick Resek
Niederhauser shared the final steps of her sister’s run in a TikTok that earned more than four million views. “Bragging because my 32-year-old sister with Apert Syndrome decided to run a marathon on the treadmill today,” she captioned the video. The comments were flooded with messages of support, excitement and awe.
The runner didn’t train for any specific time–the goal was completing the distance. “The most difficult part was staying on the treadmill for that long,” Niederhauser added. While Resek is the third of seven children, and other family members have run cross-country or played soccer, she’s the first to accomplish this feat.
On July 4, Resek went on to compete in a local Kaysville 5K, clocking a three-minute personal best of 26 minutes.
@cariruns2025 is my year!♬ KEEP PUTTING IN THAT WORK – QUOTESOFTHEDAY
How does Apert Syndrome affect her daily life?
Finding shoes and maintaining balance is more difficult for Resek than for most; she also doesn’t drive, so family steps up to help with transportation. Still, Resek works full-time as a caregiver at a local daycare and maintains a healthy lifestyle.
“Her life is a strong example of resilience and determination,” Niederhauser said.
What’s next for Resek?
Resek says her next goal is to return to the treadmill to try to lower her time. “[I want to] see if I can do it in five hours and fifteen minutes and just to have fun running,” Resek said. “Maybe with better shoes and some training.” She also revealed her fuelling secrets for her 42.2K journey–”apple juice and the little bite muffins that I buy for the kids [at daycare].”
You can continue to follow Resek’s progress on TikTok at @cariruns.