I'm looking to become a police officer after I graduate college and I'd like to keep running. I'm not talking professionally or anything but just staying fast and active. I know that some state troopers work 12 hour shifts so it would be hard to do a lot of serious training with a job requiring so much commitment. Has anyone done this or become a police officer while also training seriously?
British Police Officer for 28.5 yrs now retired.
I'll post you further after the New Year how I did it.
Hicham343 wrote:
I'm looking to become a police officer after I graduate college and I'd like to keep running. I'm not talking professionally or anything but just staying fast and active. I know that some state troopers work 12 hour shifts so it would be hard to do a lot of serious training with a job requiring so much commitment. Has anyone done this or become a police officer while also training seriously?
Don't you watch TV/Movies? Cops are always chasing/running after the bad guys. Probably after a few years on the job you'll be able to run from your precinct to the nearest donut shop in :45 seconds. Ha! Ha! JK!!!
Yah, you'll have time to run. Physical fitness is a big thing now days for law enforcement. Half of the guys at my gym are cops. They're either running on the t-mill or looking at themselves in the mirror while lifting weights.
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By letsrun standards I am slow. I went into the academy at 21 y/o in low 17 5k shape (lifetime PR was 16:28). After an injury I slowed down and eventually rotating 12 hour shifts (two weeks of day work and two weeks of night work) took their toll. Finally, 9 years later I cracked and started running again. I average about 45mpw and am hoping to reach 60. It can be done. Depening on the types of shifts it may be harder or easier.
crooked cops wrote:
Every American cop is a criminal. The crime rate would plummet if we executed all cops.
It is a shame you think that way. While there certainly are some bad cops its far from the majority.
Perhaps if we got rid of prejudice people like you the crime rate would really plummet?
2:11 marathoner Herm Atkins was a cop, but I don't know if he was retired from world class running by then.
I really appreciate everyone taking the time on New Year's Eve to answer my question and I look forward to hearing back from UK800MAN. Fife I'm probably a similar type runner to you as I have close times and will ideally be about the same age when I enter the academy. I started running only my junior year of high school and will graduate college at 20 so I feel I will be missing out on running fast times if I become a police officer but it's a huge goal of mine. I fell in love with the sport and just want to see how fast I can get. Would you say that it was worth it Fife?
I think Kip Keino was a cop in his olympic days.
I'd run competitively in normal running gear honestly. The police gear is pretty heavy and dressing as a cop seems a bit pointless.
Absolutely worth it. The job has its ups and downs. Right now, it seems the world hates us. I am pretty much a moderate that is slightly left on some issues, date a black girl and yet somehow still get called a racist pig by people who have never met me because of my job(the very definition of prejudice).
Overall, my running has improved once I got out of uniform and into investigations (better schedule). My goal is to run a 2:45 marathon this year and then get back to shorter stuff. We'll see.
During the academy everyone struggled with the runs. Our first day we "sprinted" 3/4 of a mile at 7min pace. I never wanted to stand out so I just cruised in the middle. Guys would huff and puff at 2-4 miles around 845 pace. I ended up running on my own time just to make up for it.
Our pt test required a 1.5 mile run in 12:57. I jogged it around 850 and you would have thought they met a world record holder.
Overall, its a great career. You just need thick skin and recognize that the public perception while not accurate is what it is. I do my best to change peoples' opinion one interaction at a time.
I fear reading one of your arrest reports .
22 year vet of one of the 4 largest police departments in the country. Unfortunately for my running but fortunately for my wallet, I have ascended the third highest rank in the department. Thus, I sit at a desk all day.
In order to get my runs in, I am up at 0330 most mornings and out the door between 0400 and 0415. Getting my run in is my first priority of the day.
Of course, as a younger officer, I was in much better shape. Working Evening shift (2pm to 10pm) was the best shift for training. I had all day to train before I went to work. For about 6 years as an officer, I was on bike patrol and rode about 30-35 miles a day (and I was about 20 pounds lighter).
My 26.2 run times are about 25 minutes slower than they were 10 years ago, but I have quit chasing PR's and just run (and swim and bike) for fitness.
I run with the cadets and it never ceases to disappoint me that as a man in his 50's, I am running circles around men and women in their early 20's. Some of these guys can't even "run" 2 miles at a 11 minute pace.
Gotta go. heading out to run my first 26.2 of the new year.
Ask Asbel Kiprop. He is a police officer isn't he?
Erfworm wrote:
Ask Asbel Kiprop. He is a police officer isn't he?
Yeah, we get it: there have been lots of elite runners in previous decades who were officially police officers, but actually only had to run. This was how russia, ethiopia, kenya, etc sponsored athletics at the government level, since there was very little private sponsorship opportunities in those countries at the time. Now we can go back to the OP's actual question.
Barney Fife was a runner.
Fife wrote:
crooked cops wrote:Every American cop is a criminal. The crime rate would plummet if we executed all cops.
While there certainly are some bad cops its far from the majority.
There certainly are some bad cops. In fact, every cop in this country is bad. When did a cop ever turn himself in for speeding or any other crime? They take an oath to uphold the laws, yet break the laws with impunity. There simply are no honest cops in this country.
As was Virén.
Hi Hicham.
Finally got some down time to reply.
I joined the British Police Force in Dec 1985 after an 8 yr career in the Civil Service.
Began running in 1981 mainly in distance events, 10k to the marathon.
Started track in @1983/84 as I was disillusioned with the marathon after a PB of 2.37 from 2.40.
Decided to join the Police for a new challenge in life.
Had a home interview with an Inspector who was a keen runner himself who knew of me locally (in the running world not underworld !)
Passed that of course, the main interview day consisted of the 1.5 mile run plus gym tests, press ups sit ups etc.
Blew the run in 7.04 (think it was a bit short) and then encouraged the other candidates which impressed the panel.
Got the job.
The most difficult period was the initial training as I couldn't put in the sessions due the timetable of the course, ie dinner straight after class, and then revision study. Ended up missing meals, or having the left overs following training later.
After passing the course, I managed to get my fitness back.
Found the optimum times to train hard was in the morning before the afternoon shift which started at 2pm - 10pm.
Then in the late afternoon/early evening following the night shift which was from 10pm - 7am, which I put down to the body having a quality sleep.
Ran some of my best times then.
Training/racing after the early shifts 7am - 2pm always seemed more miss than hit as there was tensions from the job and tiredness carrying over, so generally I trained easier on those days and harder on the rest days.
Also, noted that training/racing on the 2nd rest day seemed more difficult than the first.
I put this down to the body clock re-adjusting itself from what went before.
It is almost that you are in constant jet lag when on shifts.
Last 8yrs of service was office based, so shifts were day based.
Didn't always feel great on these so did the quality in the late morning when I could.
1993 PR'd my 800 to 1.59.8 in the National Police Champs, always my times were peppered around the 2.xx mark.
2003 competed at the WPFG in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium, got 4th in the 800, 2.07.05, and 40 mins after a gruesome 1500(4.28) in 33 Degrees won a Silver medal in the 400 in 57.3.
Have also gained UK National medals and a European Bronze in the 800.
Retired on the 10th June 2014, which I scheduled as being on the Anniversary of Mr Coe's WR 1.41.73 in 1981 !
A big highlight of mine was in 1990, when I won the same trophy as Seb Coe in a grass track mile in 4.34 to his 4.09 back in 1976.
Still competing now as M55, just ran a 61.48 400 and 28.34 200 at the weekend, quickest times for a couple of years.
In some ways my running career got in the way of personal ambition and sometimes family life, but it was an excellent way to distress after dealing with suicides/homicides.
My advice is to try and make the best use of your free time if you go down the Law enforcement route and the running will take care of itself.
My athletic career may have been affected by the work life balance of the job, but I know of an International athlete who joined the Police and competed at the Commonwealth Games and ran a 1.45.7 800m !
Good luck in what you choose to do.
Kev
crooked cops wrote:
Every American cop is a criminal. The crime rate would plummet if we executed all cops.
And all the sinners, saints.