Chris Estwanik, the six-times Appleby Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby champion, has been sidelined by a stress fracture on his right foot that will keep him out of next month’s race and has dashed his hopes of qualifying for the Rio Olympic Games.

Estwanik picked up the injury last month, the fifth metatarsal on his right foot, the same side where he had an Achilles tendon injury a year ago.

The 36-year-old, who was looking to defending his Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby title this year, is still wearing an air cast and will not have it removed in time to train and prepare for the race.

Estwanik is baffled by what has caused the latest injury which he thinks may be down to overuse. “My body is telling me something,” said Estwanik, who had wanted to run the New York Half-Marathon in March as well as the London Marathon this weekend.

“These things happen, it’s part of sport. I put myself out there and sometimes you break down, unfortunately.”

Injuries have been the story of Estwanik’s life during the past three years.

In that time he has suffered; a torn tendon in his right knee, a fractured bone near the base of his spine after a fall while running on the railway trail in 2014 and an Achilles injury last year, before he came back to win a sixth May 24 title.

“That’s what sports is, always trying to push yourself to the nth degree and for me in three of the last four years my body has pushed back,” Estwanik said. “Up to the age of 33 I only had one injury and now I’ve had a rash of them.

“I’ll speak with the doctors to see if they can figure out what’s wrong with me because obviously this keeps happening and I don’t have a great explanation for it. I’m scratching my head as well.

“I’ll be in the walking boot for at least eight weeks and have been in it for five so far. I’ll probably get it off the week of May 24, but obviously I won’t be able to train. ”

After winning the gold medal in the half-marathon at last summer’s NatWest Island Games in Jersey, Estwanik had set his sights on qualifying for the Olympics, but that goal has been dashed by the injury.

“Unfortunately it’s the end of the road for that as well,” he said.

A new champion will be crowned in the popular May 24 race, with the likes of brothers Lamont and Larry Marshall, a former winner, likely to be among the contenders.

“I’ll obviously miss being out there but I’ll be there to support other people and it will be fun to see others rise to the challenge,” Estwanik said.

As Estwanik contemplates his return from the latest injury, his wife Ashley is branching out into triathlons, winning the women’s division at Bermuda’s first Aquathlon at Clearwater Beach two weeks ago — two runs and a swim in between — even though she admits swimming is her weaker discipline.

However, triathlon runs in the family, which includes cousin Tyler Butterfield.

“Both of our parents did triathlons as well so it helps when you grow up around it,” Estwanik said.

She competed in her first Butterfield Bermuda Grand Prix last weekend, finishing second behind women’s winner Alyssa Rowse.

“I actually started doing some swimming when I was injured last year, swimming and cycling to keep my fitness up for running,” she said. “Then I decided to do the swim and bike portion of the Miami Half-Ironman in October, though I couldn’t do the running part.

“I love it and in 2½-weeks I’m heading to Utah to do a Half-Ironman there. Swimming is definitely my weakest of the three, running is still my strongest, but I’m really enjoying it and it is keeping me uninjured and in shape for running.

“I keep trying [to tell Chris] but he’s not listening to me!”

Estwanik enjoyed mixing it up with the top female cyclists during the three-stage event, which started with the hill climb in St George’s.

“It was a learning experience and there are things I would do differently, like for the hill climb I was not properly warmed up and wasn’t in the right gear.

“However, it was a lot of fun and the people are great. I definitely want to do more of it in the future, whenever I can fit it all in. May 24 is on the horizon after the half-ironman but it’s only two weeks later so hopefully I will have recovered enough to run well.”

Husband Chris is more than happy to support her.

“I’m incredibly happy for her and excited for what she’s doing,” Chris said.

“I’m so happy she’s found this new passion and seems to be going from strength to strength. That’s the best part of being in a marriage like we have, being able to support each other through good times and bad.”

And when Ashley attempts to retain her May 24 title, Chris will be out there with their two children cheering her on.

“I’ll get some time with the children and figure out what’s next,” he said. “When I start to ease back I’ll see how things feel. Hopefully it [injury] doesn’t become a reoccurring theme.”