Dustin Tuller, pictured at right, is one of the 17 vets who will be participating in the race as part of the Achilles Team of Wounded Veterans. The team provides injured service men and women the opportunity to train and compete in mainstream races across the country.

Just over seven years ago, Tuller was wounded in Baghdad.

"I was in a raid and received multiple gunshot wounds to my lower half of my body which resulted in the loss of both of my legs," said the Pensacola area resident. "I received over 200 bullets."

The retired Army staff sergeant says during his rehab he always knew he would find a way to stay active.

"I wasn't going to lay around and do nothing," said Tuller. "In order for me to recuperate and recover, I had to find outlets to do and marathons was one of them."

Tuller uses prosthetics and has been in nearly 20 marathons since he was wounded. He's also found plenty of other outlets to keep him busy including skydiving and skiing.

Today Tuller talks to other vets about how to stay encouraged after a serious injury. He'll be competing in a handcrank wheelchair in the half marathon.

Michael Fradera, pictured at left, will join him in the race. The 10-year Army vet from Lakeland just started doing marathons last year. He was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007.

"I lost both legs, collapsed both lungs, (had) burns on the face and arms and my hamstring on the left side is completely gone," said Fradera.

During his grueling rehab, he says he never thought about competing in marathons.

"Not in a million years," Fradera said. "I didn't know what the future was going to hold."

Now that he has seven marathons under his belt, Fradera says he'd like to be in the Paralympic Games, a special competition for the disabled.

"I live my life to the fullest as much as I can because I don't want to take nothing for granted anymore."

The Bob Woodruff Foundation is sponsoring the team's trip.