Chris Estwanik admitted it was a relief simply to be back racing after clocking a new Bermuda residents’ record at the Philadelphia Half-Marathon.

Estwanik, who has battled back from a torn tendon in his knee and a fracture in his sacrum — the large bone at the base of the spine — crossed the finish line in 1hr 5min 16sec last weekend, smashing his previous best at that distance of 1:06.32.

It was a stunning run made even sweeter by an intense period of rehab and an injury-hit year and half that had the American, a former professional athlete with Nike, wondering whether his competing days were behind him.

“I remember I was doing a lot of my training just going to the harbour and just treading water for an hour,” he said. “That was my ‘running’. I remember thinking ‘I’m 34-years-old, I’ve been doing this a long time, is this it?’

“Every athlete realises it at a certain point. Their body is not cooperating but thanks to a lot of people I was able to stay the course, stay positive and get back out there.

“It’s a huge part of me and I’m so grateful to be doing it once again because you never know when your last great race is going to be. I cherish each one.”

Estwanik, who was part of a large contingent of runners from the Island to take on the Philadelphia course, stayed with the leading pack for nine miles and realised around the ten-mile mark that the record was on. He finished seventh overall and the second-best American.

“I went through five miles faster than I ever have, 10K faster than I ever have and ten miles faster than I ever have in Bermuda.

“That’s when the mind starts to play tricks on you because you start to think ‘Oh, gosh, when I am going to start hitting the wall here’. Fortunately, the body held up throughout the race.

“I realised when I got to the ten-mile mark that I was two minutes under my best pace-wise so I knew I had some wiggle room. Unfortunately, I fell off a little bit at the end and that’s when the guys ran away from me but the more I compete the better I’ll be at the end of these races.”

The five-times Appleby Bermuda Day Half-Marathon winner reserved praise for the APEX Physio team who helped put him back together.

“I’m still a work in progress but there’s no doubt I would not have been on the starting line if it hadn’t been for them.”

Four of the Island’s fastest women distance runners also took part in the half-marathon and came away with impressive times and finishing positions.

Leading the way was Ashley Estwanik, wife of Chris, who was ninth in the women’s race. She ran one of her quickest times, stopping the clock at 1:19:41 to claim second place in her age category.

Rose-Anna Hoey was next home in 1:26:36, and seventh in her category. Deon Breary took third place in her category, crossing the line in 1:27:36, while Victoria Fiddick was top women in the 45-49 age group in a time of 1:27:52.

In the marathon, Christopher Jones was seventh in the men’s 60-64 category in 3:32:28.

A large contingent of Island runners, and a few former Island residents, were involved in all three races, an 8K, half-marathon and marathon, held during the Philadelphia marathon weekend. Among the local results were:

8K: David Hoey 35:37; Sharon Craig 48:27; Mairi Redmond 48:27; April Vesey 48:27.

Half-marathon: Chris Estwanik 1:05:16; Ashley Estwanik 1:19:41; Rose-Anna Hoey 1:26:46; Deon Breary 1:27:36; Victoria Fiddick 1:27:52; Darin Cassidy 1:28:03; Laura Wright 1:29:28; Otis Ingham 1:39:24; Sharon Craig 1:44:12; Steven Ortiz 1:46:23; Sangeeta Wagh 2:08:23; Liz Craig 2:18:35; Michelle Ingham 2:24:11; Jo Stanton 2:41:29; Justine Foster 2:41:29; Danielle Morin 2:45:41.

Marathon: Chris Jones 3:32:28; Mairi Redmond 3:51:26; Marcello Ausenda 3:54:52; Mark Harris 3:58:49; Dodi Mason 4:22:52; Ashley Godek 4:46:58; Cindy Murray 5:33:43.