Larissa Kolasinski Turned a Scare Into a Mission

Seattle Fitness Magazine · 5 Nov 2026

Eighteen Years on the Run

Running has been part of Larissa Kolasinski's life for more than 18 years, and in that time Larissa has tried nearly every version of the sport there is, from the mile to the ultramarathon. Larissa has completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, among the largest and most competitive marathons in the world, and has gone on to become a sponsored athlete and a Guinness World Record holder.

Larissa says the results show it: a sub-3-hour marathon finish and a place among the top 1 percent of international trail runners. Most recently, Larissa won Seattle's Dicksathon, a marathon that sends runners between multiple Dick's Drive-In locations, with burgers and milkshakes required along the way.

A Scare That Became a Mission

The hardest moment Larissa has faced on a run had nothing to do with pace or distance.

While running abroad, Larissa was attacked by a pack of rabid dogs, an experience that had a much bigger impact than Larissa ever expected going in.

That fear turned into purpose. Larissa got involved with the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, a global nonprofit working to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies in select countries, turning a terrifying moment into something meaningful far beyond the running community.

Powered by the Pack

Larissa credits Seattle's running community for making the miles better.

The city's run club scene has grown enormously since the pandemic, and Larissa trains with several groups, including Cascade Run Club, Antifreeze Run Club, and CSRD, each bringing different paces, personalities, and lessons.

The friendships built along the way matter just as much as the miles. Larissa is grateful for training partners who have shared countless repetitive miles and retold stories, and for friends willing to listen on the phone during a run, calling the shared laughs and occasional suffering what makes the sport so much better.

Training for Life

Larissa runs every day, seven days a week, and during ultramarathon training the mileage climbs to 70 to 100 miles a week, with lifting and yoga mixed in. Hot yoga, hot tubs, sauna sessions, and massage round out recovery.

There is no offseason in this approach. Larissa trains year round, calling it training for life, staying ready for the trail along the I-90 corridor, Washington's national parks, Seattle's bike paths, or a loop around Lake Union.

The Next Horizon

Larissa's next challenge is a first 100-mile trail ultramarathon, the longest race Larissa has ever attempted, arriving with a mix of nerves and excitement.

Larissa is also working toward qualifying races for the Western States Endurance Run, the world's oldest 100-mile trail race, with staged adventure races on the wish list too.

Larissa's advice for anyone tempted to go long: don't get into ultrarunning, because it is a total gateway to pushing the limits further and further.

More Than Miles

Beyond racing, Larissa volunteers with King County Search and Rescue, an all-volunteer, free community resource.

Anyone who gets into trouble outdoors and calls 911 for search and rescue just might see Larissa running up to help, snacks in hand. Larissa is a sponsored athlete, a Guinness World Record holder, and a finisher of all six Abbott World Marathon Majors.

With a sub-3-hour marathon finish and a place among the top 1 percent of international trail runners, Larissa has built a running career that keeps finding new ground to cover.