5 Minutes with Jenson Button

Having just competed in the London Triathlon, Jenson Button caught up with The Tab to tell us about his training regime and why the Make A Wish Foundation is so important to him.

Tabatha Leggett and Holly Stevenson: You have already completed two triathlons; what made you want to want to do it again, and what exactly does it involve?

Jenson Button: I got into triathlons a couple of years ago. They’re a great way to keep fit and it’s also nice to have something away from Formula 1 that I can compete in. The training involves some sprint triathlons which is a 750m swim, a 20k bike ride and a 5k run. And then the Olympic distance triathlons, which is what the London Triathlon is, involves a 1.5km swim, a 40k bike ride and then a 10k run.

TL and HS: How does training for triathlons compare to training for F1 races?

JB: My training works across both, so it’s ideal. There is also some F1 specific training that I do such as work on my neck which helps deal with the pressure of the G-force – I’ve ended up with quite a freaky neck for my frame!

TL and HS: Why is the Make a Wish foundation important to you?

JB: Make A Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses, and it is a real privilege to be involved with them. The kids are so inspirational and I’ve had the honour of meeting a number of them over the years.

TL and HS: What is the proudest moment of your career so far? Does completing a triathlon give you the same sense of pride as winning a race?

JB: I mean, crossing the line in Brazil, having achieved my life dream, was an unbelievable feeling. I’ve had some great moments in my career: from that, right back to finding out I had been awarded a drive in F1 for the first time. I have a lot of special memories, but Brazil would have to be my number one. There’s definitely a huge amount of personal satisfaction when finishing a triathlon, especially in knowing you have pushed yourself as hard as you can.

To sponsor Jenson Button, visit his JustGiving page here.