Well-known Whakatāne runner and amputee Sjors Corporaal set a new personal record at this month’s Born to Adapt event, running further than he did the year before.

Mr Corporaal ran the seven-and-a-half-kilometre loop – a new addition to the Rotorua event – surpassing his efforts the previous year, when he said he could do only a few laps of the 1.7km track.

The effort was not without its challenges.

Mr Corporaal said that during his run he experienced slight discomfort, so instead of running 15km, which was two laps of the loop, he settled for one.

He said it was important to know your limits.

Mr Corporaal won the Goat Tongariro mountain race eight times as well as other Eastern Bay events before losing his leg in a farming accident in May 2024.

“My life just changed in the blink of an eye,” he said.

He did not know whether he would be able to walk, let alone run again.

He said being able to run again was “just amazing” and was thanks to all the technology such as his running blade.

Mr Corporaal was introduced to the Born to Adapt event by its co-director, Matthew Bryson, a fellow amputee and peer supporter at Peke Waihanga Artificial Limb Service.

Mr Bryson, from Edgecumbe, helped him get back on his feet and find the confidence to run again.

Mr Corporaal believes that Born to Adapt is an “inspiring and motivating” event, especially when people push themselves and get out of their comfort zone, and it gets them outside in an environment that will support them for their disabilities and differences”.

He said the event also provided the perfect opportunity for people to meet others with similar experiences.

For him, just being in the Redwoods Forest was calming and therapeutic.

“I think it’s awesome to just have been able to involve everyone in the community; it’s really, really neat.

“The Born to Adapt event helps make me feel normal again.”

Mr Corporaal said his big takeaway from his accident was, “you never know what’s going to happen, and you shouldn’t take things for granted”.

Born to Adapt was introduced into New Zealand in 2023 and has skyrocketed, with 200 people participating in this year’s event. It has also expanded to the South Island, with an event at Bottle Lake in Christchurch.

The event is free and open to all ages, abilities and impairments.