Chris Estwanik and Kavin Smith, two legends of the Bermuda Day Half-Marathon, finished first and third in the Bacardi 8K Road Race yesterday.

Leading from start to finish, course record-holder Estwanik comfortably defended his title in 27min 3sec, while Gayle Lindsay was the fastest woman by a ten-second margin.

A week ago Estwanik, 36, won the XL Catlin Man on the Run 5K, his first road race on the island since January. Injuries have sidelined him and he has adopted a cautious and pragmatic approach towards his recovery, doing two to three low-mileage runs each week. On the days in between he swims to maintain fitness, and has also done some cycling.

An imbalance in strength between his left and right side is believed to be behind an Achilles injury and a knee issue.

Estwanik said he was keeping his training restrained, and taking a steady approach to racing to avoid aggravating or compounding the injuries.

“I want to be one of those people who can still go out running after I’m 40,” he said.

He enjoyed the opportunity to be back racing, mingling with runners and friends after being out of the picture for so long.

“I figured I had to come out and give it a bash,” he said. “My time was slower than what I am capable off, but I enjoyed today and seeing all the good people here.”

Estwanik’s course record, set in 2011, is 24:46. For the moment, he is taking his running and racing one day at a time.

The six-times winner of the island’s signature May 24 half-marathon, also noted the return of Smith. “It’s great to see Kavin back out,” he said.

Smith, 49, a nine-times winner of the May 24 race, ran much of yesterday’s race alongside eventual runner-up Christopher Harris, 47, who clocked 28:56.

Finishing a further 25 seconds in arrears, Smith declared himself satisfied with his morning run and the opportunity to compete after so many years away from road racing.

Women’s winner Lindsay, 28, ran a time of 33:40. She took control of the race just after three miles, as she edged away from Emilie Fournel, 30. Closing in on the front pair was Catherine Mello, 38, who eventually passed Fournel to finish second in 33:50.

Fournel, a three-times Olympian who represented Canada in the sprint kayak in Beijing, London and Rio, was third in 34:06.

Lindsay said: “I was feeling good at 5K and she [Fournel] was beside me. Going up the hill at Berkeley Road, I got a bit of gap and just kept going.”

She did not look back to see who was pursuing her, but kicked near the finish, as she sensed Mello getting closer.

In the men’s race, Richard Hall, 45, an Ironman triathlete who lives in Hong Kong, finished fifth in 30:58.

He is visiting the island for business meetings and decided to enter the race. He has competed in the Ironman world championships in Kona, Hawaii, a number of times, and has a best of 9hr 42min.

Although the Bacardi 8K was a relative sprint compared with the distances he usually competes at, he enjoyed it.

“It was short and sharp,” he said. “It was a great race, and it is always nice to come to a place and see something like this.”

The 8K walk was won by Howard Williams in 54:13, followed by Emma Atherton in 56:03 and Aaron Tucker in 59:30.