Chris Estwanik will not rush his recovery from a troublesome Achilles injury and will not be in action at the Bermuda Marathon Weekend.

The six-times Appleby Bermuda Day Half-Marathon Derby winner is, however, hoping to run in this weekend’s Gosling’s to Fairmont Southampton Road Race.

“I’m just taking things one day at a time at the moment,” said Estwanik, who won the Bacardi 8K in November, his first race since the NatWest Island Games in Jersey, where he won two medals.

“I’m hoping to do the Gosling’s to Fairmont and will be doing a workout on Thursday to see if the body holds up.

“I can’t do the Front Street Mile or 10K [in the Bermuda Marathon Weekend] because of travel and won’t do the half-marathon as it’s too far for the body.

“I haven’t got any races lined up at the moment. Hopefully in February or March.”

Estwanik, who represented Bermuda for the first time at the Island Games, winning the 10,000 metres and finishing second in the 5,000 metres, has been hampered by a succession of injures in recent years.

He tore a tendon in his right knee in 2013 and then suffered a freak injury in 2014 while running on the railway trail in Paget, landing awkwardly and fracturing a bone near the base of his spine.

Both injuries delayed his bid for a sixth victory in the Bermuda Day Half-Marathon, although he made a triumphant return in last year’s race, completing the new 13.1-mile course, starting in St George’s, in a time of 1hr 7min 46sec.

The Gosling’s to Fairmont Southampton Road Race, the traditional start to the Island’s running season since 1978, began life as the Princess to Princes before changing its name to the Fairmont to Fairmont. It was the inaugural event to be organised by the Mid Atlantic Athletic Club.

This year’s race, the first to be sponsored by Gosling’s, has a slightly different course, with the race starting at Gosling’s headquarters on Dundonald Street, heading to Cedar Avenue and Burnaby Hill, before turning on to Front Street.

From there they will follow the previous racecourse to Fairmont Southampton Beach Club, via Harbour Road, Burnt House Hill and Middle Road.

It will also include a competitive walking category, a three-member team relay, and a junior 3K race.

There will be one other addition to the race with the male runners competing for the Peter Lever Cup, Lever, one of Bermuda’s most talented and successful road runners, died last March. He was one of the founding members of MAAC and the first Princess to Princess race director in 1978.

The adult race has prizes for the top male and female finishers in the 16-39 (open); 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; and 70 and over categories.

The first male and female walkers will win prizes, as well as the first tourists.