He lost both his legs by an IED in Afghanistan. Now, this Army vet is competing in the Boston Marathon to inspire others.

A 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran and double amputee competed in the Boston Marathon for the fifth time Monday, WBZ-TV reported.

Retired Master Sgt. Cedric King said that he hopes his story inspires others who face challenges in their lives.

"I want people in Boston to understand that if I can do this, then they can do any challenge they have in front of them," he told WBZ over the weekend.

What's the story?

In 2012, King lost both of his legs after he stepped on an improvised explosive device during his deployment to Afghanistan.

Less than two years later, he competed for the first time in the Boston Marathon.

"Even though I was in a position where I lost my legs, it did not give me an excuse not to keep fighting," King said.

He's competed in the 26.2-mile race on his prosthetic legs and he's done it in a wheelchair.

This year, King competed in the handcycle race.

"The preparation for this year has been a little tough," King said. "Finishing it on all three platforms is fantastic. It gives me the ability to know that if I can do this on three different platforms — prosthetics, a wheelchair, and a handcycle — then I can do anything."

What else?

King spends much of his time traveling around the country and sharing his story through the Penfed Credit Union Foundation Speaker's Bureau.

"Corporations and businesses in this country, they need to hear the stories coming out of Afghanistan and Iraq," he told the news station.

The motivational speaker has also written a book, "The Making Point," which he hopes encourages others to be their best.

"I just want somebody to have a better today than they had yesterday," King said.

King's finish time was not immediately available.