Despite (forcibly) easing up on yesterday’s triathlon, my calf muscles are very painful to even touch. And the brain was not in much better shape too.

As I arrived at the gym I realised I did not have my cycling shoes with me. Fortunately, I had left them at the gym the previous day and they had been handed in. And then as I prepared for the first element, I had forgotten to put on my swimming shorts before leaving home and they were still sat on the bathroom radiator.

Wearing my baggy running shorts, I completed the 1,500 metre swim seven seconds per 100m slower than usual. I could feel the cord on the shorts digging into my hips as they acted like a sail and provided considerable resistance.

Each time I kicked off from the end of the pool I could also feel the pain in my calf muscles so when it came to the cycle I was focused on not exacerbating the problem. I completed the 40km three minutes slower than the day before.

Then onto the run and the pain was intense. As I started I was unsure how long I could continue, would the pain force me to stop or walk, or would I be able to carry on albeit at a slower pace. Fortunately, the latter was the case and I trudged along attempting to protect my muscles from further damage. It seemed to take forever, it was very slow at almost 57 minutes but relief at completing another and I have my fingers crossed that tomorrow’s triathlon will be easier, although I will accept just possible.

I am attempting to complete an Olympic-distance triathlon every day for 100 days to raise awareness and funds to build a memorial to the more than 4,000 police officers and staff who have died on duty.

Please support me to see this fitting tribute begin construction at the National Memorial Arboretum in 2019. You can donate here.

Today I paid tribute to those who died on December 11, they are:

1876 – Inspector Joseph Drewett – Berkshire County Constabulary

1876 – Police Constable Thomas Shorter – Berkshire County Constabulary

1914 – Special Constable Samuel Claxton – East Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary

1914 – Police Constable John Quinnell – Metropolitan Police

1920 – Temporary Cadet Spencer Chapman – Royal Irish Constabulary

1927 – Station Sergeant Anthony Sullivan – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable John Barrier – Birmingham City Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Harold Kavanagh – Birmingham City Police

1940 – Special Constable Eustace Speller – Birmingham City Police

1941 – Police Constable Evan Davies – Cardiff City Police

1958 – Police Constable Royston Adams – Metropolitan Police

1973 – Detective Constable George Rolston – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1995 – Sergeant Robert Pearman – Bedfordshire Police