Jane Hansom: Cyclist Profile

My name is Jane Hansom, I’m from from Dundee in Scotland. I’m the owner and Director of Sponge Marketing, a strategic full service Marketing and PR Agency specialising in sports, entertainment, and tourism.

When and why did you did you start riding around Regent’s Park?

I started in 2011 when I took up triathlon. I used to run cross country and swim for Scotland as a kid but did no sport in my 20’s and 30’s. When my client, Sony Playstation, convinced me to do the London Marathon in 2011, I completed it in less than 4 hours and was hooked. I then went on to come 3rd master in the New York marathon in a time of 2.58 within the year. Given my swimming background my brother suggested i enter a triathlon. I entered the London Hyde Park Olympic test event (and won).

I didn’t have a bike so I bought one from eBay, which turned out to be the wrong size but that’s when I started heading to Regent’s Park to learn how to ride it. Initially I competed in Olympic Distance events before recently taking the steps up to Half and Full Ironman Distance. I’m a Team GB Age Group Triathlete and have been successful in getting onto the podium at Olympic distance at World Championships.

I have just come back from competing in the Half Ironman World Championships in Zell am See in Austria where I won the Bronze Medal in my age group and I will be heading off to Kona in Hawaii in October for the World Ironman Championships where I hope to podium.

Who do you ride at the park with?
My buddies Bertie and Tony or i’ll head out on my own.  The beauty of the park is that, even when arriving there alone, you can always find someone to ride with! I prefer to swim with swimmers, bike with cyclists and run with runners.

How has Regent’s park been beneficial for your cycling?
Sure, it’s been great for my cycling. It’s a great place for intensity sessions. Given the traffic lights, the best way ride the circumference is to work hard on different sections, recover and repeat! It’s also a great place to train away from the pollution, traffic and dangers on broader London streets.What does riding round the park mean to you?I’m there 6 times a week, every day apart from Sunday.

If I didn’t have the park I’d have to ride an additional 25 mins to get to Richmond. Or lose my mind on the turbo. I love that it’s so close to my home in Queens Park.The cycling community is great great there and it feels safe to ride there. The roads are good.

Do you visit Regent’s Park without your bike?
Yes. I run round the park everyone other day. I use the track. Primrose Hill for hill repeats and also walk my dog, Archie, there. He used to do all my marathon training there with me but he’s 10 now and hides behind the sofa when he sees my put my trainers on. I’ve been to the open air theatre several times, held company sports day in the park and Archie and I have even had a photo shoot there.