Author: paullander100

Today, Sunday November 11 – the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I – I paid tribute to the millions who died in what is called the Great War but was anything but great. Now there is so much more awareness of the mental as well as physical trauma caused by battle, how much those men and women who fought between 1914 and 1918 must have suffered.

It was a sombre day to complete my 12th consecutive day of Olympic-distance triathlons. I stopped cycling at 11am to observe and reflect during two minutes of silence, and to remember so may who gave their lives for our freedom.

And I passed so many displays of remembrance in every village or town, and even houses in the middle of nowhere were festooned with poppies.

But I also had my own battle with my body to face today, to pay tribute to fallen police officers and staff.

Yesterday, my left knee caused a huge amount of pain and concern so today was a fight to overcome this injury and get through another day.

It is a mental battle to control how to cycle and run and avoid pain when injured. The cycle was easier but a very low power ride. The run was then the big test.

I started very slowly, trying to run in a way that did not hurt. After about 500 metres though, the pain was so bad I was doing a combination of limping, hopping and then walking for a few seconds. Then running slowly again. After a kilometre I was able to maintain a slow speed, when I have managed a range of 4.30 to 5.40 per kilometre in previous runs, all I could manage now was 6.47, but I was just grateful to be able to continue.

After 2km, I was able to slowly, very slowly, increase the pace. I finished in over 57 minutes, the slowest I have ever run 10km. But I am so pleased to have finished and see another day.

The reason I am completing this challenge to do 100 Olympic-distance triathlons on 100 consecutive days is to raise awareness of and money for the building of a fitting tribute to fallen police officers and staff at the National Memorial Arboretum.

On November 11, the following officers died to protect us and ensure we can see many more days:

1817 – Watchman J Walker – City of Westminster, London

1822 – Sub-Constable Francis McGuinness – Munster Constabulary

1870 – Police Constable William Watts – Wiltshire Constabulary

1879 – Police Constable James Goodwin – Birkenhead Borough Police

1917 – Station Sergeant William Wheeler – Metropolitan Police

1939 – Sergeant Thomas Hodgson – Lancaster City Police

1940 – Reserve Sergeant James Holt – Metropolitan Police

1940 – Special Sergeant Herbert Ross-Myring – Metropolitan Police

1971 – Sergeant Dermot Hurley – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1971 – Police Constable Thomas Moore – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1988 – Detective Constable Stephen Dixon – Thames Valley Police

Please help get this memorial built, remember these officers and say a big ‘Thank you’ to all officers and staff who continue to put themselves in danger so we can see another day.

Thank you.

Today (Saturday November 10) was a day of swings – from pain to running freely and back to pain again.

If you have read any of the previous updates, pain in the knees is recurring and today was when it caused great concern.

After a very pleasant swim and enjoying the wonderful November sunshine on the bike, the run was going fine until the third kilometre, when the left knee suddenly felt a sharp pain. I immediately slowed and took it extremely steady until the 5km point, when the muscles and bones seemed to stop aching or hurting and I was running freely, so smoothly that I was clocking 4.32 per km but thinking it was much slower.

The run was much quicker than expected and I was very happy – until I did any bending later.

For the rest of the day the left knee was causing me to limp slightly. Once again my knees are the main subject of the update – my ‘Achilles heel’, as everything else seems absolutely fine.

At least Day 11 have been done and let’s hope the left knee recovers like the right and I will be very positive about completing the challenge.

Today I paid tribute to the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice on November 10 in previous years. They were:

1934 – Police Constable James Carter – Metropolitan Police
1913 – Police Constable Alfred Daws – Port of London Authority Police
1983 – Reserve Constable William Fitzpatrick – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC
1935 – Police Constable Robert Holmes – Birmingham City Police
1967 – Police Constable Derek McIntyre – Mersey Tunnels Police
1895 – Sergeant William Morris – Gloucestershire County Constabulary
1990 – Detective Inspector William Murphy – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC
1917 – Police Constable James Neil – Great Grimsby County Borough Police
1937 – Station Sergeant Frederick Parncutt – Metropolitan Police
1986 – Police Constable Derek Patterson – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC
1997 – Police Constable John Shevlin – Merseyside Police
1937 – Police Constable Albert Taylor – Metropolitan Police
1990 – Reserve Constable Thomas Taylor – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC
1897 – Police Constable Henry Williamson – Cheshire County Constabulary

Please share my journey and if you can donate to create a fitting memorial to these officers at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-lander3

Thank you.

I have now reached the first major milestone – ten Olympic-distance triathlons done in ten days.

The swimming is getting tougher, for some reason the distance feels much longer every day. However, the cycling feels easier, there is less pain in the knees as I ride and times have improved. When running though, the knees feel every step.

On days 4 and 5, I was easily drawn into pushing too hard on the run as a result of the kilometre times that flashed on my Garmin watch. Despite all my instincts and how I have previously trained, I have to focus on the surviving another 90, rather than worrying about PBs. It is now obvious I will have to get used to 10km runs in excess of 50 minutes if I am to avoid injuring myself.

I promised that after every five triathlons I will have a mini-celebration. So our favourite Turkish restaurant was booked and its special devoured, followed by fresh baclava and Turkish tea. Before I start my 11th, I have five days to plan the next mini-celebration.

There is an awareness building of my challenge. Locally, strangers have started asking me about it after some good publicity in the newspaper and on radio.

And I now have two chief constables offering to take part in at least one leg of a triathlon when I take the challenge around the country – I have visits planned to at least six forces so far.

After reaching this important but early milestone I am feeling positive about how the challenge is going. The donations have slipped slightly behind target so if anyone is planning to donate, please do so at my Justgiving page.

On this day, as every day, I pay tribute to the officers who died. On November 9th in the following years, these officers made the ultimate sacrifice to keep the public safe:

1849 – Head Constable William Campling – Saffron Walden Borough Police

1872 – Police Constable Moses Parrott – Metropolitan Police

1881 – Sergeant William Bacon – Metropolitan Police

1893 – Police Constable William Grant – Lancashire County Constabulary

1913 – Police Constable Ernest Watts – Surrey Commercial Dock Police

1920 – Police Constable Archibald Turner – Royal Irish Constabulary

1938 – Police Constable George Shepherd – Metropolitan Police

1968 – Head Constable Robert Murdoch – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1982 – Detective Constable Garry Ewing – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1989 – Police Constable Ronald Ansell – Lancashire Constabulary

1989 – Police Constable Douglas Johnston – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

2005 – Police Constable David Shreeve – Merseyside Police

But I am also doing the challenge to say ‘Thank you’ to every officer and member of police staff who every day risk their own safety to protect the rest of us.

Yesterday’s triathlon had a major impact and left me exhausted. So today, Thursday, was going to be hard mentally.

I was back in the routine and an early night again but the overwhelming feeling I had on waking at 4am was a huge desire to take a day off.

But that is a major part of the challenge, it has to be done on consecutive days and, this early, I have to shun such thoughts from my brain.

The swim seemed to take ages, it was again really nice to have some company, even if only for a small part (cheers Colin Cowle). The bike was much easier and knees felt pain free until 35 kilometres. The niggles returned so I eased back for the last part. And the run was very pleasant. My shorts and top were dripping wet with sweat from the cycle but the weather was so nice, they were bone dry by the end of the run and I didn’t feel cold at all.

One more done and I can look forward to number 10 on Friday and, with every fifth one, my little mini-celebration – hope it will be a trip to our favourite Turkish restaurant, and then a lie in on Saturday (6am).

I am completing these 100 Olympic-distance triathlons in 100 days to build a fitting tribute to police officers and staff who have died on duty. I remember those who died every day and on November 8, the following made the ultimate sacrifice:

1813 – Police Constable Enos Climer – Buckinghamshire Constabulary

1828 – Sub Constable Patrick Cleary – Ulster Constabulary

1875 – Police Constable Thomas Turner – Newport Borough Police

1916 – Police Constable Ernest Albert Cooper – Gloucestershire Constabulary

1920 – Constable Hugh Kearns – Royal Irish Constabulary

1939 – War Reserve Constable Israel Abrahams – Metropolitan Police

1940 – Special Constable Henry Thomas Welfare – East Sussex Constabulary

1987 – Sergeant (Rtd) Samuel Gault – Royal Ulster Constabulary GC

1987 – Reserve Constable Edward Armstrong – Royal Ulster Constabulary GC

But I am also doing this to say thank you to all officers and staff who are going into danger every day to protect us.

My stats for this day are as follows:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/3146566705

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/3146743910

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/3146744176

On Wednesday, the day after press day, was always going to be a big test.

Press days are stressful, often involve working late and mean meals are grabbed at awkward times, which was again the case. By the time I left the office at just gone 9pm, the routine established this week had been blown apart. No chance of getting to sleep early and grabbing the all important recovery before hearing the alarm ring at 4am again.

But even with just four hours sleep I didn’t feel too bad when I climbed into the pool to begin today’s triathlon. I was buoyed by the cheery welcome of the gym’s receptionist who told me she has read all about the challenge in this week’s local paper – The Bucks Herald. Nice.

However, a third of the way into the cycle, I could feel the tiredness kick in. Every kilometre seemed to tick down so slowly, and sitting on a razor of a bike seat for another hour and 15 minutes meant the effort was numbing both ends of the body.

By the time I started the run, the muscles were stiff and I was feeling extremely drained. I completed the run in 51 minutes, slower than usual but I cared less about the time than I have ever done so far.

Today was not the most productive at work either, I have to admit. After a couple of hours a reclined car seat beckoned.

But no matter how tired I get, it is so important that we pay tribute to the thousands of police officers and staff who have given their lives for us.

Today I remembered all the officers who died on November 8, they are:

1850 – Police Constable Thomas Underwood – London & North Western Railway Police

1864 – Police Constable George Saunders – Metropolitan Police

1867 – Police Constable Patrick Keena – Dublin Metropolitan Police

1870 – Police Constable Richard White – Dundee City Police

1930 – Superintendent Thomas Blanchard – Lancashire County Constabulary

1966 – Police Constable George Higham – Lancashire County Constabulary

1978 – Police Cadet Michael Hall, Police Constable Isabella Harris and Police Constable Gerard Hogg – Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary

1984 – Police Constable Timothy Lilley – Hampshire Constabulary

Please support my challenge to raise money to build a fitting memorial to them and say a huge thank you to all officers who do a hugely difficult and dangerous job. You can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Lander3

I have fingers on both hands crossed as I write that the challenge is beginning to feel like I am getting into a routine.

That involves getting up at 4am, having breakfast, working until 6am and then beginning the triathlons at 6.30, in the office by 10am and completing a full day’s work. Then bed by 9pm-ish.

There will be a test however, with Tuesday press days, that routine could be severely disrupted. We will have to see how it impacts on day eight.

I had company for the first time, on just the swim, when a fellow gym member and excellent swimmer said he was planning to swim 1,500 metres that day. We swam stroke for stroke, side by side on every length. You can’t help but pick up bits of his easy style and the first leg was done sooner than expected, I had knocked four seconds off my usual average 100 metre pace.

I completed the bike and run without any major concerns, I have regained control over the urge to bike against speed and run against times, however, the run definitely felt easier today.

On day seven, I paid tribute to the officers and police staff who died on duty on November 6. They are:

1817 – Parish Constable Thomas Rowles – Parish of Brighthelmstone, East Sussex

1920 – Temporary Cadet Bertram Agnew – Royal Irish Constabulary

1920 – Police Constable Robert Gorbey – Royal Irish Constabulary

1920 – Temporary Cadet Lionel Mitchell – Royal Irish Constabulary

1940 – War Reserve Constable George Borham – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Leonard Bowes – Metropolitan Police

1940 – Police Constable John Brown – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Thomas Coe – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Thomas Craven – Metropolitan Police

1940 – Police Constable Clifford Davies – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Llewellyn Davies – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Simeon Glen – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Gerard Harvey – Metropolitan Police

1940 – Police Constable Charles MacInnes – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable Arthur Myers – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable George Smith – Metropolitan Police

1940 – Reserve Constable Charles Summers – Metropolitan Police

1940 – War Reserve Constable George Wallis – Metropolitan Police

Afterwards I was forwarded several emails from forces offering to host me during the challenge, with at least one chief constable offering to complete a triathlon with me. Thank you very much, I look forward to joining you to remember officers and staff who died in your areas.

After yesterday’s collision and pain, I was very worried that I wouldn’t be able to swim or run today. But, the shoulder was fine and, after lowering the intensity of both cycle and run, I made it through another day.

It could have been very different, I am sure, if it wasn’t for the caution urged on me by someone who knows about these things.

With my Garmin watch vibrating every kilometre during the previous two days, I had drifted back to competing against time rather than thinking about the bigger picture. So it was a timely intervention in the form of a Facebook message from Ian Mayhew (gearsandtears.com) who said: “Don’t over think the pace, enjoy the moments & allow yourself to ease into each discipline. This is not a challenge where 1/10ths of seconds count, much bigger than that.”

So, I managed to ignore the watts on the Wattbike and not care about the vibrations as the kilometres ticked by on the run. Until 7km in that is and I became complacent and started to push hard. Immediately there was a sharp pain in the middle of the knee and I eased back.

It was the sign I needed and I held back the rest of the way, and another triathlon is done, one closer to the bigger goal.

As on every day, I paid tribute those officers and staff who died today in history, they are:

1733 – Watchman Mathew Davis – Mile End, Bow, Middlesex

1863 – Police Constable Robert Campbell – Glasgow City Police

1888 – Sergeant Henry Norwood – West Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary

1904 – Detective Constable John Hutchinson – Reading County Borough Police

1926 – Inspector Charles Hutchins – City of London Police

1935 – Police Constable Henry Groves – Metropolitan Police

1939 – Police Constable Harold Anderson – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1939 – Reserve Police Sergeant William Huggins – Metropolitan Police

1953 – Inspector George Watson – West Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary

1969 – Police Constable David Prior – Metropolitan Police

1977 – Detective Sergeant Neil Caskie – Strathclyde Police

1981 – Police Constable David Allwright – Sussex Police

1981 – Police Constable Clifford Haywood – Metropolitan Police

1983 – Reserve Constable John McFadden – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1989 – Police Constable Philip Lake – Metropolitan Police

1991 – Acting Sergeant Simon Lilley – Northamptonshire Police

2012 – Detective Constable Adele Cashman – Metropolitan Police

I thank you for your sacrifice and that of all officers and staff who risk their lives every day.

Please donate and help get a fitting tribute to them built at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire – www.justgiving.com/paul-lander3

 

 

Number 5 Olympic triathlon out of 100 done and, as I promised myself for every fifth triathlon, I will afford myself a mini celebration. However, it wasn’t without incident (see below).

As on each and every day, I am paying tribute to those officers who have died on duty. On November 5, the following made the ultimate sacrifice:

1858 – Police Constable John Scudamore – Bute Dock Police

1875 – Sergeant George Green – Salford Borough Police

1895 – Police Fireman William Dryden – Sunderland County Borough Police

1895 – Sergeant John Hasker – River Wear Watch

1908 – Police Constable James Black – Dundee City Police

1920 – Sergeant Samuel Lucas – Royal Irish Constabulary

1920 – Police Constable Albert Rundle – Royal Irish Constabulary

1950 – Police Constable Samuel Lock – Metropolitan Police

1951 – Police Constable Hubert Pay – Kent County Constabulary

1983 – Sergeant Stephen Fyfe – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1983 – Inspector John Martin – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

1984 – Reserve Constable Samuel Fletcher Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC

The triathlon went well but after 8km into the run, concentration went and I ran too close to a lamppost, striking it with my shoulder. The air was blue. Aside of the searing pain, the overwhelming feeling was fear that my shoulder would be damaged and prevent me from swimming.

I have a bruise but it doesn’t seem too serious, we will have to see how it feels when I try to swim another mile.

More worrying is a sharp pain in my knee, felt as I got home and immediately started painting the living room. After completing five triathlons on consecutive days, I get an injury while painting walls!

Domestic bliss and triathlon challenges are not best friends so this appears the price I pay for keeping home life sweet. Ice applied and recovery achieved. My mini celebration was to indulge in a mega-pizza and a beer.

We will see how injuries are when I go again but, for now, cheers!

Spurred on by some lovely messages of support from Lancashire Constabulary Deputy Chief Constable Sunita Gamblin and former Chief Constable Jane Sawyers, I was looking forward to today’s effort and getting outside on the bike.

The body appears to be holding up, sore knees but that is normal when I train a lot. It is the brain that is suffering more now. I have to be very careful every time I stand up as the rush of blood is too much and I found myself putting milk cartons in the sink instead of the fridge this morning.

Today the swim was a little tougher as the shoulders ache. Armed with flapjack and a little trepidation, I set off into the very windy Chiltern countryside on the bike. It was s beautiful sunny day but tough going on the 12.5 miles against the wind, but a pleasure on the way back.

Then the run and very difficult to get going, I have been running at around the five minutes per km rate so far but the first km was around 30 seconds slower than that and the body didn’t seem to want to get into a flow, it all seemed a trudge. However, by the fourth km, the muscles eased and my running got smoother. By the seventh and eighth, I was at 4.47 and 4.46, much better than any of the other days.

And another Olympic-distance triathlon is done, four down and I have decided to have a mini celebration every fifth one, so tomorrow I will think of a way to mark the first set completed.

As ever, I paid tribute to all the police officers who died on this day, they are:

In 1868, Superintendent Richard Pickering – Lancashire County Constabulary;

In 1920, Sergeant Patrick Fallon – Royal Irish Constabulary;

In 1920, Police Constable William Maxwell – Royal Irish Constabulary;

In 1920, Police Constable James Mulvey – Royal Irish Constabulary;

In 1934, Police Constable David Cameron – Royal Ulster Constabulary;

In 1940, War Reserve Constable Douglas Van-Den-Bosschel – Metropolitan Police;

In 1968, Detective Sergeant David Lumsden and Police Constable Iain Ritchie – Inverness Burgh Police;

In 1983, Police Constable John Houston – Strathclyde Police;

In 1984, Police Constable Joseph Whitford – Metropolitan Police; and

In 2012, Special Constable Scott Bennett – Lincolnshire Police.

The memorial will pay tribute to these officers’ sacrifices and to those who continue to keep us safe.

Thank you for your support.

Day 3 began later than hoped. After the previous two days’ exertions the aches had kicked in and I was feeling really tired. There is an overwhelming desire to get the maximum recovery possible before starting all over again.

My 55-year-old body is feeling every inch of the miles I have swum, cycled and run since Wednesday.

Yesterday, I paid tribute to the ultimate sacrifice made by:

Sergeant Neil McDougall – Metropolitan Police (1901);

Police Constable Sydney Larkin – Royal Irish Constabulary (1920);

Police Constable Christopher Crawford – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC (1941);

Police Constable Sidney Miles – Metropolitan Police (1952);

Police Constable David Barrett – Metropolitan Police (1954);

Detective Constable Noel McCabe – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC (1976);

Police Constable Raymond McLaughlin – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC (1991);

Police Constable John Cardy – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC (1991);

Reserve Constable Brian Woods – Royal Ulster Constabulary, GC (1993);

Police Constable Ralph Friend – South Wales Constabulary (1994);

Detective Constable Stuart Cookson – Cheshire Constabulary (1999);

Sergeant Iain McLay – Metropolitan Police (2009); and

Police Constable Neil Jeffrys – Strathclyde Police (2011).

All of these officers who died on duty and will be remembered.

Please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Lander3 to donate and see the memorial to these and all fallen officers built in 2019 and say a big THANK YOU to officers who put themselves in danger so the rest of us are safe.

Thanks also for the kind messages of support, it is very much appreciated and needed.