The body clock became used to 4am starts but a late night and delayed start on one day this week threw it out of sync; it was particularly difficult to get going this morning.

The sore knees are a constant but not as worrying as a few days ago. Now, nutrition is taking over as the most significant concern while attempting this challenge.

Sugar is so tempting normally so after 16 triathlons the offer of two doughnuts the previous afternoon was too much to resist. I am sure I paid for it on the 17th.

The low energy levels experienced the previous day may have been a sign of what was to come. Once on the bike, it was clear the stomach was not how it should have been and by the time I was half way on the run, the decision to take a route into the country, where an opportunity for a pit stop was possible, proved a good one.

Nevertheless, I managed to complete another Olympic-distance triathlon, another 2,000 calories burnt in the process, and I was able to pay tribute to all the fallen police officers and staff who gave their lives protecting us on November 16.

They were:

1876 – Police Constable Nathaniel Cox – Somerset County Constabulary

1903 – Police Constable William Davies – Montgomeryshire Constabulary

1912 – Police Constable Laurence Bergin – Royal Irish Constabulary

1922 – Special Constable John White – Ulster Special Constabulary

1940 – War Reserve Constable William Blake – Metropolitan Police

1940 – Police Constable Albert Craig – Brighton County Borough Police

1940 – Detective Constable Maurice Lee – Essex County Constabulary

1940 – Police Constable Alexander Scott – Essex County Constabulary

1940 – War Reserve Constable Arthur White – Metropolitan Police

1941 – Police Constable William Story – Surrey County Constabulary

1943 – Special Constable Sidney Baker – Plymouth City Police

1965 – Police Constable Reginald Pickles – Leeds City Police

1973 – Police Constable Brian Moore – Nottinghamshire Combined Constabulary

1973 – Police Constable David Rooke – Ministry of Defence Police

1975 – Reserve Constable Joseph Clements – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1982 – Reserve Constable Samual Corkey – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1982 – Reserve Constable Ronald Irwin – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

I hope to see a fitting tribute to these officers built in 2019, please support my efforts, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Lander3

Thank you.