Special Olympian ready to tackle Boston Marathon's hills

The Boston Marathon regularly draws more than 30,000 participants to make the run from Hopkinton, Massachusetts to Boston.

Arizona resident Carla Simon has qualified for both the 2020 and 2021 race. But for the 32-year-old Special Olympian, adding another medal to the multitudes she has won already is motivation.

The Boston Marathon offers an adaptive program for runners with physical or intellectual disabilities. The program has different requirements in order to qualify for the marathon and offers a handful of accommodations to those who need it on race day. Marla Runyan, the para athlete manager with the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), said these runners receive VIP treatment on race day.

Video produced by Arizona State University senior sports journalism major Stephanie Bates

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