Author: paullander100

Well it is New Year’s Eve and a fabulous feeling to have reached this far. However, while the legs are doing fine, throat is now the cause of concern. A constant cough from the moment I went to bed kept me awake until 1.30am. A lemon and ginger tea, a dollop of honey and a slice of Christmas cake worked wonders, I managed to sleep for a few hours and I will suggest pastries be given on prescription.

Into the pool and the feeling of being drained of energy was overwhelming. A woman wearing flippers kept trying to keep pace with me, which drove me on, my competitiveness getting the better of me.

Then it was onto the bike and I was thankfully joined by Tom again who kept my mind from the slog. A decent ride done and onto the roads where we set off at a slower than usual pace. A dizziness hit me every two kilometres or so and I eased off the pace. The stomach, which often becomes delicate when I get a cold, was reminding me not to run too quick. It wasn’t until the last kilometre that I was able to stretch the legs and enjoy a fast pace back to the gym.

Just 38 triathlons to do in 2019 but first a long sleep so I can enjoy seeing in the New Year.

I am doing this challenge of completing 100 Olympic-distance triathlons in 100 consecutive days to raise money to build a fitting memorial to fallen police officers and staff. We really hope to build a structure that marks the ultimate sacrifice made by over 4,000 men and women who died while keeping the rest of us safe.

Please support my efforts in getting this fitting tribute built at the National Memorial Arboretum by donating here.

Today I remembered those who died on New Year’s Eve:

1872 – Police Constable William Perry – Cardiff Borough Police

1876 – Police Constable Edwin Olive – East Sussex County Constabulary

1905 – Police Constable Robert Caughey – Glasgow City Police

1919 – Police Constable Maurice Keough – Royal Irish Constabulary

1920 – Police Constable Ernest Dray – Royal Irish Constabulary

1930 – Police Fireman Alfred Waterhouse – Leeds Police Fire Brigade

1989 – Reserve Constable Joseph Johnston – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

2004 – Police Constable Valroy Hodgson – West Midlands Police

The fatigue has really set in after 60 Olympic-distance triathlons with no break.

Number 61 was a test of surviving the three or so hours of exertion, desperate for the time to pass so making as much effort as possible to go as fast as I can, while feeling extremely drained.

Thankfully the knees and calf muscles that have caused much concern over previous weeks give only occasional reminders of their weaknesses.

I completed today in pretty standard times (30 minutes for the 1,500m swim, 1 hour 10 minutes for 40km cycle and just under 49 minutes for the 10km run). However, the rest of the day was a wipeout. I was doing better when I had just four hours sleep over Christmas, or perhaps I am now paying for those days.

However, I am buoyed by the fact the number of triathlons left to do begins with a three for the first time, another ten and I will really feel like I am on the run in.

I am completing this massive challenge to raise money to build a fitting tribute to all police officers and staff who make the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. If you have not yet supported me please donate whatever you can here.

Today I paid tribute to all who died in the line of duty on December 30. They are:

1856 – Acting Constable John Parson – Great Western Railway Police

1908 – Police Constable Frederick Nash – Folkestone Borough Police

1920 – Police Constable Arthur Thorp – Royal Irish Constabulary

1929 – Sergeant George Schofield – Metropolitan Police

1956 – Police Constable John Scally – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1969 – Detective Constable Angus Mackenzie QPM – Glasgow City Police

1985 – Sergeant Ronald Hunter – Bedfordshire Police

Another milestone reached today as I am 60 per cent of the way to my goal of completing an Olympic-distance triathlon on 100 consecutive days on behalf of the UK Police Memorial.

After overcoming very sore calf muscles last week, the main issues have been feeling very stiff at the start of each one, feeling great on the run but then very tired for the rest of the day.

Day 60 was a very good example of this, but it is great to have a strong rhythm to the run at the end, which leads to feeling positive about the challenge.

After 60 days of tributes to fallen police officers and staff, I keep hoping there will be just one day in history when no-one has died on duty, especially at this festive period. But that never happens and it is painful to think of those families living through these anniversaries without their loved one.

Having spoken to a number of people who lost a son, father, or colleague on duty, one of which was 30 years ago, it is clear how important it is to build this fitting memorial to the sacrifice made, and the enormity of the loss.

Today I paid tribute to the police officers and staff who died on December 29. They are:

1859 – Police Constable Allen Mason – Surrey County Constabulary

1868 – Detective Sergeant James Kemp – Northampton County Borough Police

1870 – Police Constable George Waring – Metropolitan Police

1874 – Police Constable Francis Murphy – Royal Irish Constabulary

1903 – Inspector George Smith – East Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary

1906 – Police Constable George Hodson – Lancashire County Constabulary

1920 – Police Constable Martin Mullen – Royal Irish Constabulary

1926 – Superintendent Howard Beckwith KPM – Stockport Police Fire Brigade

1940 – War Reserve Constable George Gray – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Francis Taylor – Metropolitan Police

1972 – Detective Constable David Dench – Metropolitan Police

1973 – Police Constable Michael Logue – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1984 – Police Constable Peter Deans – Avon & Somerset Constabulary

1984 – Police Constable Jonathan Stapley – Avon & Somerset Constabulary

Another late start to today’s triathlon, it is such a relief to have a break in publishing and not have to be in the pool at 6.30am. I am not sure how I would have coped.

However, despite the lie in till 7am, I was very tired after yesterday’s speedy effort. And however much I enjoyed the faster run, I would be foolish to try and keep that level up.

I was still very stiff for the swim and gradually loosened off as I went. I took a couple of minutes longer to complete the 40km bike leg before setting off on the run. The sun was shining brightly and the temperature was a welcome nine degrees. The heavy legs and caution meant the 10km was almost three minutes slower than the previous day but satisfying that I had no ill-effects from that unusually fast run.

Just 41 triathlons to go but one before the next milestone.

I am attempting to complete 100 Olympic-distance triathlons in 100 days to raise money to build a fitting tribute to fallen police officers and staff at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Today I paid tribute to those who lost their lives on duty on December 28. After long lists over the past few days, it is a relief the number is fewer. They are:

1852 – Chief Constable John Craige – Castletown Police, Isle of Man

1858 – Police Constable John Smith – Essex County Constabulary

1914 – Special Constable Joseph Thomas – Essex County Constabulary

1921 – Police Constable William Hallett – Metropolitan Police

1939 – Reserve Constable Frederick Words – Royal Marine Police Special Reserve

1950 – Police Constable Thomas Blomfield – West Suffolk Constabulary

After Christmas festivities were over, it was back to Aylesbury and swimming and cycling at the gym. However, two nights of just over four hours sleep, Christmas indulging and a lot of driving took their toll.

I was so late getting out of bed that I just made it to the pool for 9.15am. The shoulders were achey so it was a more relaxed 1,500m swim. Then onto the bike and meeting Tom who kept me company on the bike and run leg today.

Remarkably, and despite remaining cautious for my calf muscles, the ride was pretty quick (1 hour 8 minutes for the 40km).

Then onto the run and I was amazed at how free of aches and pains I was. The extra couple of hours in bed had been massively beneficial and I could tell the pace Tom and I were setting was relatively fast.

Recognising that my heart rate was quite high we eased down over the last two kilometres but even so the 10km run was done in just over 46 minutes, by far the fastest of the whole challenge.

Just 42 triathlons to go but focusing on the next milestone (60). It is easy to look too far ahead after surpassing the half way mark.

Today I paid tribute to the police officers and staff who died protecting the public on this date (December 27). They are:

1873 – Police Constable David Fox – Cheshire County Constabulary

1879 – Police Constable Levi Phillips – Glamorganshire County Constabulary

1899 – Police Constable William Chadwick – West Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary

1901 – Police Constable Thomas Coleman – Warwickshire County Constabulary

1914 – Police Constable Harry Adams – Staffordshire County Constabulary

1920 – Police Constable Alfred Hogsden – Royal Irish Constabulary

1920 – Police Constable Patrick McCann – Royal Irish Constabulary

1920 – Police Constable Isaac Rea – Royal Irish Constabulary

1920 – Police Constable John Reid – Royal Irish Constabulary

1921 – Sergeant Francis Wallbank – Preston County Borough Police

1930 – Police Constable Hugh Miller – Birmingham City Police

1934 – Police Constable George Bruce – Metropolitan Police

1942 – War Reserve Constable George Dalton – Surrey County Constabulary

1943 – War Reserve Constable John Towers – Blackburn County Borough Police

1983 – Police Constable Alexander Negus – Suffolk Constabulary

2012 – Police Constable Tony Sweeney QPM – West Yorkshire Police

Just how I was going to manage doing triathlons every day while enjoying the usual Christmas festivities would be answered today. After yesterday’s weird goings on at Hampton Pool, cycle around Richmond Park and run through Twickenham, I enjoyed the delicious food and drink made by my family, and indulged as much, if not more, than most people.

I had to be encouraged to go to bed and managed just over four hours sleep before I had to get up on Boxing Day to go back to Hampton and do it all again.

Bizarrely, the pool was much quieter and calmer than Christmas Day and there were just three of us in the fast lane. My competitive spirit ensured I swam quite hard. Then it was on to the bike and a repeat of the fabulous route around Richmond Park. This time I paused to speak to a number of officers who were having a meeting in the park and after wishing them a peaceful and safe New Year, it was back to the pool to change shoes and head onto the run.

One mile before the end of the ride, a fellow cyclist needed assistance. Having too short a valve on his replacement innertube for his deep-rimmed wheels, he was fortunate to stop me. I was carrying a tube with the required 60mm valve and soon had him on his way. I would later be delighted by the cyclist’s generosity in donating to my challenge’s cause – thank you Peter.

I then set off on a different route on the run and enjoyed pushing the effort more than the previous few days. With calf muscles feeling less painful and the temperature several degrees warmer than the previous day, I was able to chase down a few other runners on my 10km run around Bushey Park.

Feeling very satisfied that I was able to complete another Olympic-distance triathlon and the excess of Christmas pudding and champagne had a positive effect if anything, I was looking forward to devouring more of the same. It seems that ‘active recovery’ is real but ‘festive recovery’ is better.

It was a wonderful two days in many regards and, although my relatives didn’t seem to mind my anti-social activities too much, I look forward to a normal Christmas in future.

Thank you to everyone who has supported my fundraising to build a memorial to police officers and staff who have given their lives in the line of duty. If you have not yet done so, please donate whatever you can here.

Today, I paid tribute to all the officers and staff who died on duty on previous Boxing Days. They include the first and longest serving commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, who was found dead at his desk. Painfully for all in West Yorkshire Police where I was an officer, it is also the 15th anniversary of the death of Police Constable Ian Broadhurst, who was shot and killed by a former US Marine.

The full list is as follows:

1684 – Watchman Thomas Sydens – City of London

1724 – Watchman Joseph Candy – London Night watch

1868 – Commissioner Sir Richard Mayne KCB – Metropolitan Police

1884 – Police Constable John Fowler – Leeds Borough Police

1900 – Police Constable Frederick Kidd – Metropolitan Police

1919 – Police Constable William Murtagh – Royal Irish Constabulary

1920 – Inspector John Burney – Middlesbrough County Borough Police

1930 – Sergeant Arthur Marriott – Derby County Constabulary

1940 – Police Constable Ian Steen – Lancashire County Constabulary

1947 – Police Constable Gilbert Perkins – Metropolitan Police

1947 – Police Constable Leslie Thompson – Metropolitan Police

1957 – Police Constable George Wheatley – South Shields County Borough Police

1961 – Detective Sergeant Leslie Thomas – Bristol City Police

1969 – Police Constable Ronald Pell – Metropolitan Police

1976 – Chief Inspector George Manning – Essex Police

2003 – Police Constable Ian Broadhurst – West Yorkshire Police

2007 – Police Constable Christopher Roberts – Metropolitan Police

2014 – Police Constable David Arthur – Metropolitan Police

After little over an hour with relatives on Christmas Eve and it was time for an early night – I had to be up at 3.50am to eat and set off for my triathlon on Christmas Day.

After my usual intake of porridge, nuts, seeds and home-made marmalade, it was off to Hampton open air swimming pool, some 30 miles away. This was to be one of the weirdest experiences ever.

On the roads it wasn’t until I was on the M25 that I saw another moving car. And arriving at the pool I was early and not a soul in sight. That was to change very soon as the pool’s usual users arrived for their ‘traditional’ Christmas Day swim. There was soon a throng waiting in zero degree temperature waiting to get into the pool.

I had to book a half hour slot as Christmas Day is apparently its busiest day of the year! Lane swimmers therefore arrive very early as after 8am around 1,500 people pile in.

As the doors opened two minutes before my 6.15am slot, it was a rapid change and dash across icy concrete floors and into the warm pool. I chose the fast lane and looked to see how many people were using it but the mist from the water meant I could only see a third of the way up the 36m pool. As I jumped in five people quickly emerged through the mist and I knew I was going to be occasionally overtaken by these very good swimmers.

As I was five minutes late changing and figuring out lockers I knew I would go over my time allocation and, after stopping occasionally to give way, I sneaked three minutes into the next slot. It was then back to the changing rooms where the next batch of swimmers was rushing to get in and the first lot drying off.

With so much equipment for swimming, cycling and running inside the very small lockers, it was a battle to find space. But the banter was entertaining and I was advised on the best cycle route to take in Richmond Park.

I am sure many London cyclists would not have heeded so many red lights when there was no-one else in sight but as a Buckinghamshire resident I was completely law-abiding, however, that did not help with the rapidly freezing hands and feet.

I found Richmond Park and was amazed at the number of cyclists and runners who were already there. As I cycled around the perimeter, the deer were close enough to the road to touch and did not flinch as I passed by.

Then there was a testing steep incline that got my heart rate going and suddenly I could thankfully feel my hands again as the blood returned to my extremities. One more circuit around the park and the return journey to Hampton Pool to complete 40km.

As I arrived, the throng of people crossing the road from nearby houses and getting out of cars stacking up a long way out of the car park was staggering. Some were simply wearing dressing gowns as they sought their Christmas Day dip.

I returned the bicycle to the car and removed a couple of layers as I set off for the run. My legs were heavy and still the biting cold did not make it easy but a 10km run through Twickenham and back ensured I completed another Olympic-distance triathlon on behalf of the UK Police Memorial.

Before heading back to enjoy my Christmas Day, I paid tribute to the officers and staff who died on December 25, and thought about their families as they must find it a very difficult day of the year.

They are:

1842 – Special Constable William Tilsley – Parish of Spernall, Warwickshire

1877 – Police Constable William Batley – West Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary

1892 – Detective Constable Patrick Sinnott – Dublin Metropolitan Police

1919 – Police Constable Thomas Rowland – Metropolitan Police

1943 – War Reserve Constable Stephen Cox – Birmingham City Police

1952 – Police Constable Ronald Saunders – Metropolitan Police

1961 – Sergeant Frederick Carleton – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1966 – Police Constable John Loudon – Metropolitan Police

1968 – Police Constable John MacLurg – Argyllshire Constabulary

1981 – Police Constable David Kelly – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1989 – Police Constable Paul Breen – Metropolitan Police

Please support my efforts to build a fitting tribute to these officers and give their families somewhere they can go to peacefully remember and reflect.

To donate please click here.

Sorry for the delay in posting updates, Christmas got in the way.

Day 55 was Christmas Eve and lots of pressure to get last minute shopping, pack and set off for a stay with relatives. Starting my triathlon by going over-distance by 200m on the swim was not ideal. The cycle was a pretty standard 1 hour 12 minutes although still lots of caution and one leg working harder than the other as I hope the left calf recovers.

The run was a little slow as the muscles continued to cause concern. However, another triathlon is complete and I am looking forward to how I can manage to combine Christmas festivities with very early triathlons.

Today I paid tribute to the police officers and staff who tragically died on duty on Christmas Eve. They are:

1769 – Watchman John Bigby – Westminster Bridge Watch, London

1889 – Inspector James Anderson – Tynemouth Borough Police

1894 – Police Constable Thomas Wilcox – Surrey Commercial Dock Police

1907 – Police Constable Harold Foster – North Eastern Railway Police

1914 – Police Constable John Severn – Port of London Authority Police

1914 – Police Constable William Ware – Port of London Authority Police

1915 – Special Constable Edwin Cutts – Nottinghamshire County Constabulary

1940 – Police Constable Edward Bewsher – Manchester City Police

1940 – Special Constable Harry Davies – Lancashire County Constabulary

1940 – Inspector John Salthouse – Salford City Police

1941 – Sergeant William Coates – Grand Union Canal Police

1943 – Police Constable John Godfrey – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1957 – Chief Inspector Thomas Walker – Lancashire County Constabulary

1970 – Detective Sergeant Brian Hill – Manchester & Salford Police

1979 – Police Constable John Pacey – West Midlands Police

1983 – Inspector Stephen Dodd – Metropolitan Police

1992 – Police Constable Martin Baker – Lancashire Constabulary

For their families, friends and colleagues, I really hope we can build the memorial very soon.

Day 54 of my challenge to complete 100 Olympic-distance triathlons in 100 consecutive days continued with trying to recover from a left calf injury – a similar injury to one that prevented me training at all for several months in 2017.

All went well with swim time slightly slower to the previous day, but faster on the bike and run. However, I think I pushed the run too much. As I turned onto the Aylesbury bypass, a young female runner turned in front of me and we were running at almost the same speed for a while with me around ten metres behind. As I gained very slightly on her, I could sense her unease at my footsteps so close over her shoulder. As I thought I was faster, I pushed ahead trying to gain some distance between us. When my calf muscle started to twinge, I probably maintained too fast a pace as I did not want to slow and make the woman nervous again.

Another triathlon was complete but still with very achey calf muscles. Last minute Christmas shopping afterwards couldn’t have helped the situation but now to plan the bike and run routes for Christmas and Boxing Day triathlons, which include 6.15am swims in an open-air pool quite a long way from home, which means very early morning starts to eat and digest breakfast and get there. The festive period looks set to be very testing to my resilience to maintain the challenge on consecutive days.

If you have not already done so, please support my efforts to raise money to build a fitting tribute to police officers and staff who have died while protecting the public. In 2019, we hope to build a memorial structure, launch a digital memorial and create a fund to support the families of those who die in service. The structure will be erected at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and will serve as a place of peaceful reflection, with gilded leaves cut out and given to the families.

Today I paid tribute to those who died on December 23. They are:

1830 – Police Constable James Weston – Norfolk County Constabulary

1856 – Police Constable William Vaughan – Birkenhead Town Police

1841 – Parish Constable Thomas Lamb – Borough of Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire

1843 – Police Constable Thomas Gurd – Metropolitan Police

1911 – Police Constable William Longridge – River Wear Watch

1920 – Police Constable William Gaffney – Royal Irish Constabulary

1940 – Police Fireman George Albert – Manchester City Police Fire Brigade

1940 – Police Constable Thomas Andrew – Manchester City Police

1940 – Police Fireman James Baldy – Salford Police Fire Brigade

1940 – Police Constable Herbert Berry – Lancashire County Constabulary

1940 – Police Constable John Burns – Lancashire County Constabulary

1940 – Chief Inspector William Chippendale – Lancashire County Constabulary

1940 – Special Constable Henry Heaton – Lancashire County Constabulary

1940 – Reserve Constable John Law – Lancashire County Constabulary

1940 – Special Constable Thomas Sides – Manchester City Police

1940 – Police Constable Horace Whitham – Manchester City Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Franklyn Wilkinson – Salford City Police

1954 – Sergeant Albert Downes – Halifax County Borough Police

1963 – Special Constable Evan Evans – Derby County Borough Police

1991 – Police Constable Christopher Regelous – Wiltshire Constabulary

Today was a another step in the right direction as my ‘active recovery’ from a severe calf injury has continued. So much so that my run time is back to normal even though I was very much holding myself back. For the first time I wore compression calf guards which seemed to help a lot.

A standard 1,520 metres swim time (29 minutes), slightly slower 40 km cycle (1 hour 12 minutes) and a 50 minute 10km run, and it is further adding to my belief the final 100 consecutive day challenge is possible. However, once the calf guards were removed, just walking remained painful, normality is not quite there yet.

The nutrition donation continued from Lucy. Like something from a spy movie – one insulated Marks and Spencer bag (containing washed empties) was replaced by an identical one full of fabulous ingredients to help muscles and joints survive.

Then on to a massage and my calf muscles have been taped for extra support.

As ever, I paid tribute to the officers and staff who died on this date. On December 22, they are:

1891 – Sergeant Thomas Biggs – Metropolitan Police

1894 – Sergeant William Snell – Metropolitan Police

1901 – Police Constable Abraham Sutcliffe – Lancashire County Constabulary

1912 – Police Constable Albert Diss – Great Eastern Railway Police

1912 – Police Fireman William Gavan – Liverpool Police Fire Brigade

1920 – Police Constable William Jones – Royal Irish Constabulary

1940 – Police Constable Lewis Glover – Liverpool City Police

1949 – Chief Inspector Leonard Smith – Lancashire County Constabulary

1976 – Reserve Constable Samuel Armour – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1979 – Reserve Constable Stanley Hazelton – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1981 – Sergeant Lewis Entwistle – Greater Manchester Police

2014 – Police Constable Jonathan Relph – Metropolitan Police