She hopes to run this year?s Marathon Derby but Anna Eatherley does not expect to truly defend her title.

Chronic hamstring trouble in both legs ? particularly her left ? have thwarted the champion runner?s aspirations for a seventh May 24 success.

Already having missed the season?s premier races because of the problem, she disclosed yesterday that while not yet entered she plans to do so.

?I haven?t entered yet but I?m probably going to be a late entry. I?m waiting to see. I?m kind of tentative about my hamstring injury,? she said.

?I?m 75 percent better. I did the Regiment race last Sunday and I ran sort of like my normal old self but I could still feel my hamstrings and that was only five miles.

?If I baby them this week I should be able to get through but I?m not going to be 100 percent and I?ve done everything that I could think of to get it better in time but it hasn?t quite worked.?

Given the circumstances, therefore, when asked if she can reasonably defend her title or at least make a challenge of it, she responded candidly ?no?, adding that she fully anticipates the crowning of a new women?s champion.

At peace with her situation, the six-time winner observed that ?it?s probably time for someone else to win it?.

?I?m just glad that I can still run and run competitively in my age group,? said the 41-year-old, signalling that the Masters division will be her focus.

Regarding the injury ? which first came to public light when Eatherley failed to compete in the popular Bermuda International Race Weekend in January ? the veteran noted that up until now ?I?ve never been injured?.

?Now this has made me miss all the major races this year. It?s never gotten completely better,? she said.

?It?s both my hamstrings but one is worse than the other, my left one. I think the other one (right) goes out in sympathy because I?m favouring my left leg. It?s one of the things that you get when you run a lot ? your hamstrings are weaker than your quads. A lot of Masters runners have this problem.?

Doggedly, the Island?s ace road racer battled through some shorter events despite discomfort and being unable to produce her best.

?I was obviously not running up to my normal self and I felt it. It wasn?t right. I?m on the mend and it?s getting better. I probably just need a bit more time,? surmised the diminutive competitor who has done limited training for the Marathon Derby.

Still, she is not particularly frustrated by her fate and scoffed at the idea that this would prompt her exit from the athletics scene.

?I?ve done everything in running that I want or need to do. I run more than anything else because I like it now. I don?t have any lofty goals anymore?

?I?m 41 and I would like to compete in the Masters for a while. I don?t see myself ever stopping unless something really bad happens.?

Asked what she would do if somehow she finds herself in contention for the women?s title next Tuesday, the easy-going Eatherley replied: ?It would be a matter of seeing what happens on the day but that would not be expected at all.

?I haven?t performed recently. I haven?t raced very much. It would be extremely unexpected.?