Newly crowned Bermuda National Cross-Country champion, Jay Donawa, will not be at his best when the International Race Weekend kicks off this Friday night after fighting health problems for the better part of a month.

The veteran athlete, who ran the six-mile Botanical Gardens course on Saturday in 32 minutes, 40.71 seconds, some three minutes ahead of second-placed Sean Trott in the Open division, will only run the International Half-Marathon, with work commitments also playing a key role in his limited participation in the road race extravaganza.

"It felt pretty good on the course," said Donawa. "I am just coming back from illness, so I wasn't sure how I would feel. I have had a serious cold, but nonetheless I went out to give a solid effort and see how I got on with it.

"I was pleased, my fitness isn't 100 percent but I was happy with the performance and the win.

"In years past, I used to target Race Weekend specifically and now it will be just a part of my season. I will compete in the half-marathon, simply because I have work commitments on Saturday so I won't be able to participate in any events on that day.

"But I will run the half with the mindset that it is part of the year. But whatever performance comes about from this, I will accept."

While feeling satisfied about his return to the racing circuit, Donawa won't be focusing on his time or placing but rather the enjoyment of being involved having skipped last year's Race Weekend.

Had he not been battling a heavy cold, he noted he would have been better prepared.

And he pointed out his participation in the New York Marathon last November as a reason not be primed and ready for the weekend.

"I have no real idea for the weekend in regards to time or place, but I want to go out and run it and see what happens. If I hadn't been suffering from my cold I would have a different mind frame as this dates back to early November when I ran the New York Marathon.

"I had a few challenges and dropped out at mile 22 and I think a lot of it was because I was a bit fatigued, so I gave myself a bit of a break after that race.

"Knowing that I had to take the time off, I knew it would be detrimental to my preparation for the season in January.

"I'm not really looking for anything special, just to have a positive race.

"Last year I didn't compete at all, a first for many years as I was dealing with a family matter.

"I wasn't training at all, so it is a bit different not going to really try and compete, but this year I wanted to at least be back and compete as a lot of Bermudians look forward to seeing you out there."