What happens when a lifelong runner is told he needs a knee replacement?

For many, it would signal the end. For Colin Smith of Whangārei, it became the start of a new chapter.

In this episode, Colin shares his journey from running impressive marathon times in his younger years to facing the reality of chronic knee pain and ultimately undergoing knee replacement surgery. We talk about the mental battle of hearing that diagnosis as a runner, the fear of losing identity, and the long road back to lacing up again.

But this isn’t just a story about surgery. It’s about adaptation. Perspective. And rediscovering what running truly means when chasing personal bests is no longer the priority.

Colin is now a regular at parkrun, proving that running doesn’t have to end when your body changes — it simply evolves.

If you’re dealing with injury, ageing, setbacks, or wondering whether your best running days are behind you, this conversation will remind you that showing up still counts.

In this episode:

• Colin’s early running and marathon years
• The mindset of a performance-driven runner
• Facing knee replacement as an athlete
• Recovery, rehab, and the first run back
• How his relationship with running has changed
• Why he still shows up at parkrun
• Advice for runners navigating injury and ageing

This is a powerful reminder that you’re not done — even when the road looks different than you expected.

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