With a three-week break between races, you’d expect most drivers to hang up their race suits and take some well-earned rest and relaxation ahead of the season’s final push.
McLaren’s Jenson Button has other ideas, however, and this weekend will take part in the world famous London Triathlon.
The annual event, which takes place over Saturday and Sunday, attracts 11,000 entrants making it the largest triathlon in the world.
It encompasses a demanding 1500-metre swim, a 40-kilometre bike ride and a 10-kilometre run. Formula 1
Following up on his double success in last year’s event, when he was proud to finish second in his age category and raise almost £20,000 for Make-A-Wish (the charity that grants magical wishes to children and young people living with life-threatening illnesses), Button is aiming to come first in his age-group and to top last year’s total. As he says himself – “Nothing like putting pressure on!”
“We are thrilled that Jenson is competing again for Make-A-Wish in the London Triathlon, particularly as it comes in the middle of the Formula One season, and we’re extremely grateful that he has chosen to represent us whilst taking part in such a demanding event,” said Make-A-Wish Chief Executive Neil Jones. “Jenson has been one of our greatest supporters for a number of years and has often experienced the extraordinary difference that a Make-A-Wish wish can make to children fighting life-threatening illnesses.” Look To The Stars
Now a ‘veteran’ of 30 years, Button is the young buck in the next age group up. And as you would expect of a sportsman for whom speed is a raison d’être, he is targeting first place this weekend.
“Last year I used to train flat out the whole time but this year I have built it up since January,” he said of his enhanced training regimen, which has been deployed everywhere from the Olympic rowing lake in Montreal to the coastal paths and coves of his twin residences of Monaco and Guernsey.
“Steady work over long periods of time with a low heartbeat and then more recently some aggressive stuff. I enjoy the pain, the training. It’s very peaceful.
It’s the same sort of feeling I get inside the car really – time to yourself.” It is something of a surprise to hear Button speak so bullishly. Telegraph.co.uk
UPDATE: August 9, 2010 09:44 am
Despite suffering from a bout of tonsillitis in the days leading up to the event, McLaren’s Jenson Button put in an impressive performance at Sunday’s London Triathlon.
Button is understood to have finished fourth out of the 570 competitors in his group, with a time of 2.14:14.
The annual event includes a 1500-metre swim, a 40-kilometre bike ride and a 10-kilometre run. It attracts 11,000 entrants making it the largest triathlon in the world. Formula 1
The racing hero challenged Vernon Kay to a London Triathlon bet last week - finish within half an hour of him and he’d stump up the wedge for my charity. If I didn’t, I’d have to square him up.
But the Frome flyer had tonsillitis, almost handing Vernon victory before the start.
In the end Jenson reached the finish line at east London’s Excel Centre in 2hrs 14mins 14secs. I got a respectable 2:39.23 and the rest of The Sun team did well too.
Afterwards Jenson said: “Fair play, fella - an amazing effort from you and the boys. I demand a rematch next year but we should find a way of having a team that destroys everyone. Catch up soon and congrats again to you, Sean, Derek, Zak, Tim and Paul.
“Still a crap time, though!!!” The Sun
At the time of writing, Button has raised more than £18,000 through his JustGiving page for the charity following his appearance in the event. Yahoo! Eurosport UK
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