Written By: GPB Sports Intern Savannah Pratt

Running 6.2 miles in the AJC Peachtree Road Race seems hard enough. So can you imagine doing it in a wheelchair?

Over thirty years ago, Shepherd Spinal Center partnered with the AJC Peachtree Road Race to create a wheelchair division. This year, there were 60-plus paraplegic athletes from around the world competing in the wheelchair division.

Their endurance is inspiring. For so many of these athletes, this was more than a race. It was an opportunity to show that their circumstances do not keep them from living life to the fullest.

So, we woke up at the break of dawn to see these incredible athletes race their hearts out.

Below is a video of the race day and an interview with a paraplegic athlete.

Photography by Matthew Sims