Road running husband and wife team Chris and Ashley Estwanik took top honours in the Bacardi 8K yesterday, leading the biggest field in the event's four-year history.

Chris pushed the couple's one-year-old daughter, Somers, all the way around the course in a stroller but still had enough energy to stay ahead of Evan Naude, finishing in 27 minutes 22 seconds.

Meanwhile, Ashley worked her way to the front of the women's division as the race progressed, finally taking control around the four-mile point before stretching her lead to 23 seconds as she finished 11th overall in 31.25.

In perfect running weather, the Bacardi event, which also features a competitive walk over the same course, welcomed its largest number of entrants. The event was so popular this year that no late entries were allowed as maximum capacity was reached earlier in the week. A total of 423 runners and walkers finished the course, which covers a distance of almost exactly five miles.

Estwanik, the current three-time May 24 Half Marathon champion was kept company for most of the way by eventual runner-up Naude.

Since the arrival of their daughter last summer, the Estwaniks have had to modify their training patterns. And this has been further adjusted since Ashley returned to work.

Chris said: "We try to fit in our runs when we can. We have found that we don't have optimum training conditions as parents, so we have adjusted."

However, he was pleased with his performance. "My body responded better today than I thought. I'm still strong. I'm getting in long runs and have a good base. In the next two months I want to do some faster work-outs."

During the race he seemed to breeze along pushing the baby stroller.

Is it easy?

"The downhills are, but the uphills are a killer and I have to grind so hard. I still want to find a way to relax on the hills, find a rhythm – it's not easy."

The camaraderie of runners, even when they are rivals at the sharp end of the competition, was evident when second-placed Naude stopped and waited after Estwanik was momentarily cut-off by a car on the course.

"He waited. He's a good friend. He was saying to me 'Oh, you've got it', but I knew he was going to have a good kick at the end and I would still be pushing the stroller, so I went quicker in the last two miles."

Naude was three seconds adrift at the end. Third place went to Gary Raynor, who was also first male master, in 28.29.

Like her husband Chris, first woman Ashley Estwanik is juggling her training around looking after the couple's young daughter and work commitments.

The 2006 Commonwealth Games 1500 metres finalist snatched only two hours sleep the night before the race, and to compound her far from perfect pre-race preparations she fell over during her warm-up.

But she recovered her competitive instincts once the race was underway and in the early stages was running alongside eventual third-placer Jennifer Alen. Up ahead were three-time champion and course record holder Victoria Fiddick and in the lead US visitor Robyn Humphrey.

Since honeymooning on the Island 19 years ago, Humphrey and her husband have been making twice-yearly trips to Bermuda from their home in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Humphrey said: "We're vacationing for Thanksgiving. We love it here. My husband chose this place because I love running and we both play golf.

"The temperature was tough for me today, as the place I'm from is much colder at this time of year. I also had some Dark 'n' Stormies last night. But I feel great. I enjoyed it while I was out in the lead. She (Estwanik) flew past me in the last mile."

Estwanik reeled in Fiddick near Berkeley Institute and then caught and overtook Humphrey at the roundabout junction between St. John's Road and Pitt's Bay Road.

She said: "I went out very conservatively and still felt good on North Shore. Today was a good starting point because I haven't raced since the summer. I may do the Front Street Mile trials and maybe the half-marathon during International Race Weekend."

Third woman was Jennifer Alen in 31.55.

The race was co-directed by Will Peckett, Sarah Johnston and Jo Bright.

Asked about the event reaching maximum capacity for the first time, Peckett said: "Bacardi has a lot to do with it. They put in a lot of effort to make sure it goes off without a problem. And the distance is a good challenge, falling between 5K and 10K, which also attracts a lot of recreational runners."

The 8K walk was won by Davina Dickinson in 55.07 from Sheena Young and Mia Pauwels. First man was Howard Williams, fourth overall in 59.31.

Road Race age division winners:

Women: (18-39) Jennifer Alen 31.55; (40-49) Robyn Humphrey 31.48; (50-59) Christina Westholm-Schroder 37.58; (60+) Peggy Couper 41.35.

Men: (18-39) Evan Naude 27.25; (40-49) Gary Raynor 28.29; (50-59) Kent Richardson 33.28; (60+) Eddie Fisher 34.50.