Post thunder run and getting to understand my polar watch better.

[Cowladyrunning]

I planned on heading out this morning early (6ish) but woke at 5 to torrential downpour. I decided I'd still go as I don't mind rain, but on getting up saw sheet lightening and a very very long rumble of thunder - thought - I'll wait! So after farm jobs were done I headed out and ended up running in dazzling sun with a steaming lane! I really love the autumn colours, so you get them in my pic too! The view picture is of the mountain hidden by low cloud. On return I checked my polar watch and was surprised to see it put my sleep as good but nightly recharge poor. I felt like I slept well so decided to read up on it. I discovered the ANR is a measure of your stress levels while asleep. Now I understand. I had had a very stressful week at work - the kind when you wake in the night with a start thinking of your to do list or something that happened.... I obviously need to work harder at calming down properly so hence eager to get back out running as much as possible again.... (I tend to stop when work gets hectic) I knew I was stressed when shingles flared up on Monday - not had since 2015. Added stress was mother in law being rushed to hospital last weekend too - (she appears to be getting seizures with alzheimers now, but home now and comfortable again)

Target for me - try to exercise in some form 3 x a week even when hectic workload / home life!.... wish me luck!!!!

[Fran6500]

Lovely photos and glad you got out in the dry. It is hard to keep the work/life balance isnt it once things get hectic at work. Well done for doing it today

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to Fran6500]

thank you!

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Well done Cowladyrunning . Like you it was pouring with rain and lots of lightning here earlier. It also brightened up but unfortunately I didn’t then have the time to get out. I have started a new job very recently and tbh it is stressing me out no end. I really don’t want it to affect my running, so I will aim to try and take a deep breath this end too. 😊😊😊

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to Frenc]

good luck to you too then! If I don't get out first thing - I don't usually make it out but really should get used to evening running.....

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

What wonderful photos CLR. Wise move postponing until after the thunder and lightning ⚡️ Bet the run felt amazing. Oh, don’t ask me about watches. Mine has a mind of its own half the time! 🙄

I hope your work stresses start to ease soon. Regular exercise should help, so do try to make time for yourself. I hope your mother-in-law is ok too. ❤️

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

thank you. Regular exercise just helps everything doesn't it! I think mother in law will be ok thank you, just means another tablet for her to take.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Oh I wish you all the luck there is, I know exactly that waking in the night and not being able to shut work off, sounds like we’ve had a similar time, i’m planning to run every day, 15 minutes after work to wipe out that list of things i need to get on with, 60 minutes on my weekend off and 31 minutes on single days off, hopefully to get stronger and a little faster but as I’ve turned pace off my watch display I won’t know 😀

Your photos are perfect for autumn, I grew up on a farm in the countryside and the season changes still excite me every year

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

thank you. Phew running everyday sounds good but hard! Good luck and here's to us all getting less stressed with our jobs! For me it's not the farm work / life being stressful at the moment -but it definitely has its moments too! 🙄

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

good luck! we know it helps, just hard to implement sometimes! 🙈💖

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

definitely!

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Totally missed the thunder and lightning…didn’t wake until 7:30…I love retirement 😄

If you’re not up to running at the end of a day, maybe a short walk instead to clear your head? When I was vaccinating last year, I’d often fit in a short walk around the block where I live after work, sometimes only for 20 minutes.

Actually, I think there are some short NRC timed runs too!

…oh, and I think I know that mountain 😉

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to LottieMW]

good idea. Lol glad you missed the storms!

[Cantstopmenow Graduate10]

i hope you manage to build some "me time" into your daily schedule (without having to get up at am). It takes some doing when life is stressful! your photos are gorgeous, you live in a beautiful part of the world. 😊 Xx

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[Cowladyrunning Graduate10 in reply to Cantstopmenow]

thank you!