AUGUST 9, 2010

Button eschews rest and recreation

Reigning world champion Jenson Button has not headed for the beach during F1's summer break. Instead, he has taken part once again in the London Triathlon, the largest of its type in the world, attracting more than 10,000 entrants.

Reigning world champion Jenson Button has not headed for the beach during F1's summer break. Instead, he has taken part once again in the London Triathlon, the largest of its type in the world, attracting more than 10,000 entrants.

Button, a keen triathlete, was suffering with the after-effects of tonsillitis, but completed the 1500m swim, 40km bike ride and 10k run in 2h14m15s, a highly respectable time even if it was seven minutes behind his mark from last year.

"I wasn't feeling great at the start of the week, which is why I was a bit slower," he said, "but I really didn't want to miss out because it's such a fantastic event and I decided just to battle through."

Button was raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation”a charity which makes dreams come true for young children who are afflicted by terminal or life-threatening illnesses.