Thousands of people will compete in the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon this weekend. There's the full marathon, a half marathon, a 5K and even a one-mile kids run.
There's also a handcycle division where athletes with disabilities race on bikes they pedal with their arms and hands.
Carly Pearson is the defending champion.
"After I was injured, just finding out that there was a possibility to be able to do sports and participate in adaptive sports and that part of my life wasn't over, was just liberating," she said.
Pearson was a high school and college athlete prior to losing the use of her legs.
"To know that I had the freedom to get out there and use sports as an outlet was imperative for me to just get out there and participate," Pearson said.
She has participated in the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon since the handcycle division started in 2009. The marathon created the handcycle division to give the Patricia Neal's Innovative Recreation Cooperative (IRC) athletes a way to compete.
IRC helps patients with brain and bone injuries, amputees and others enjoy recreation.
"The hills are just super difficult. There's no way around it. If you're not training then you're going to struggle," Pearson said.
She has been super busy with her two children and hasn't really been training like she thinks she needs to be.
"I'm hoping that my mental stamina will outweigh my physical stamina and I will just forge through like a champion," she said. "I need to be able to get out there and prove to myself that yet again I can conquer the hills and come through with one more medal."
She's not only an athlete, but she's also Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee. Pearson takes every opportunity to promote her platform.
"My platform this year is recreation and outdoors and adaptive sports, and just what that can do to improve your quality of life, and to try to help people get equipment this year, and to try new opportunities," she said.
Her reduced practice schedule has left her less confident than in years past, but she'll be there Sunday morning.
"I'm challenging myself just because I've done it for so many years in the past, and I can't not do it just on the sheer fact that there's people out there who can't, that truly cannot do it and I can," Pearson said.
Yes, she can. And you can too.
"If you can't run, walk, or roll just get out there and enjoy it. Come cheer us on," she said. "Come on out and celebrate Knoxville's best race."
The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon and Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center have a special relationship.
The Knoxville Track Club has donated almost $23,000 from marathon proceeds to Patricia Neal IRC.