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Handcyclist competing in Knoxville Marathon against all odds

She has competed in nearly a dozen Knoxville Marathons and raced in competitions around the world.

KNOXVILLE — You can watch full coverage of the marathon on WBIR Sunday morning from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. on WBIR. More details and stories here.

Carly Pearson speeds down the road just inches above the ground.

"It’s a serious dedication," she said. "You have to be so willing to spend hours training and hours and hours training off the bike as well."

Pearson is gearing up for her 9th or 10th Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. The handcyclist has competed in so many, she's lost count.

"It’s in my backyard. I can’t sleep at night thinking I shouldn’t do it," Pearson said. "I have to do the race."

She has competed in races across the world, including medaling at five national championships, a silver medal at the triathlon world championships, and countless others.

For Pearson, handcycling is a way to connect with the life she once lived.

"It gave me an opportunity to realize that life wasn't over. I just needed to adapt some things and change the way I was doing things," she said. "I think I’ve been more active actually than I would have been had this path not come before me."

In 2002, Pearson was working as a firefighter for the National Park Service when she was deployed to fight a fire in Oregon. She was injured and was paralyzed.

"I fell down a ravine and hit some rocks and was paralyzed at about the waist level. I basically knew nothing would ever be the same," she said. "It felt like a death. I was used to being outdoors and I thought all of that was just going to be over."

But that wouldn't be the end. From there, she rose to the top of her sport. When she completes the 26.2 miles this Sunday, it'll be a show in not only athleticism, but also perseverance.

"I use it as a platform to help advocate for people that have disabilities," she said. "I can do something that I never thought was possible."

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