Lynsay Clutter/Eyewitness News
Mike Priest is ready more than ever and he doesn't want to miss it. But a freak accident almost took his life.
Last July, he flipped over in a hammock, and broke two vertebrae. He became a quadriplegic.
"At one point, I did think, this is going to be it. This is the way I'm gonna be," he said.
But Mike didn't give up. Once he regained some feeling, his first thought was the mini.
After all,.he has not missed a race in 30 years.
With the mini as motivation, Mike worked hard at rehab and set small goals.
"For me it was even more basic than that. I've gotta move my right hand. Big thing for me was learning to snap my fingers," he said.
And then, his first step.
""I cried. To be honest with you. It was just overwhelming."
Saturday, Mike will walk the 13 point one miles. He says it's about celebrating life. His doctors said, he could have died.
"I don't think it's luck. I think it's one of those things that happened and now we move on. So I am blessed. I'm blessed," he said.
Mike is one of only 14 people who will take part in their 30th consecutive race tomorrow.
It will be his first walk instead of run, but he gets to enjoy the walk with his wife.
