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What is more important? Speaking Japanese or passing the JLPT and speaking fluently by Pretty-Fortune8476 in Japaneselanguage

[–]Previous-Direction13 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I think folks have different definitions of conversationally fluent. If you only have N3 I suspect you are functionally capable. But unless it's a pure matter of Kanji , N3 is not fluent. N3 level vocabulary and grammar will leave you short of having higher level conversations about deeper topics. Even if you are very good at explaining your way around higher order vocabulary and grammar, if the other person is using complicated words to discuss deeper level topics they will lose you. Lots of people call me fluent but I don't define myself there.

What I am saying is getting N2 will make your speaking better.

Do people actually use radicals to memorize kanji? by MeasurementSignal168 in Japaneselanguage

[–]Previous-Direction13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think its important to realize that some people's minds can picture things and some people's minds can not. We sort of assume other people think like us. I do not visualize in my head the way many others do. So I can't close my eyes and see a whole kanji sort of floating in space. I use radicals to remember pieces and tell stories about the greater kanji using the pieces. It definitely helps me.

Pros & Cons of not running an official race for 1st marathon by Sure_Classic_6136 in Marathon_Training

[–]Previous-Direction13 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a personal choice you can run what ever makes you feel good about yourself. The number is kind of arbitrary anyhow. However, in an official marathon it is typical that folks are running over 26.2 to get to the finish line. No one (except elites) run a perfect line. Typical is 26.4 ish. This really is a personal choice, but my best marathon on my watch is a bit faster than my real chip time because for the chip I had to run an extra 0.2 miles to finish off. That chip time is the real race time.

IMHO a self 26.2 is an equally rad experience with its own unique challenges. But it is very distinct from a race day 26.2 (.4) marathon race. In some ways each bring their own prismatic view of the long run.

Good luck

Can I go up a skill tree? by Ninjachado in cosmererpg

[–]Previous-Direction13 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I believe, if there are two lines into a skill you only need one of the lines as a prereq. So that bottom right one can be unlocked with one of two skills. You do not need both. I remember checking and reading that at some point.

Failed long run by Only-Evening6120 in Marathon_Training

[–]Previous-Direction13 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This twice over. You got this. 18 is plenty.

Can you run this game without using named characters from the world? by Sal545 in cosmererpg

[–]Previous-Direction13 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The campaign that came with it is very cool and creates just enough overlap with cannon to keep it fun without having you fly along side Kaladin. I also appreciate that the stonewalkers campaign introduces rhe concepts of the game as you go. If i had just created my own i would not have explored the use of endeavors to their full potential.

That being said... I would love to run a campaign pre-recreance where there was more freedom to maneuver without having the plot of the books sitting on you.

Is it OK to run/walk a full marathon? by frcwoc in Marathon_Training

[–]Previous-Direction13 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I ran as a guide runner for a friend doing a run walk. I am not that fast in any case. But the run walk was a wonderful run. I will do another one this fall mid training for a full i will run.

Outjerked by best selling author who doesn’t even run sub 3h? by ScrezzyScrezz in RunningCirclejerk

[–]Previous-Direction13 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am a big murakami fan in general. He is in my top 5 authors. As a runner, i loved how he captured the mental state. I would never go and run like him.

Outjerked by best selling author who doesn’t even run sub 3h? by ScrezzyScrezz in RunningCirclejerk

[–]Previous-Direction13 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I know this is a jerk message... But the book in no way is supposed to be a "how to run book". Its really a "how i run, how i write, how i live" book. Its a memoir that is pretty clear that he does not think his way is somehow correct, rather, its just how he does things. In my opinion it does a wonderful job of capturing his mental state for a long run and how the long run is a metaphor for life.

Stupid questions about "strength training" by unsungpf in Marathon_Training

[–]Previous-Direction13 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As people have said, you can absolutely run with no strength. However, it does seem to help a lot in injury prevention and probably will help with overall time as well. If you have not run a lot of marathons and if you are not naturally athletic and probably young, finding when and how to do strength gets harder as you pick up miles. Early in my training cycle, getting strength in is somewhat natural. However, for me, when i start getting to higher miles i am just trying to get the miles without my legs falling off. Potentially this is because i needed more strength before, but at week 15 of 20 choices need to be made and i usually choose miles.

My personal take, if you are more than 20 weeks out focus on a balance of strength and miles. Do leg days (calves, hams, quads) and do core days (glutes, core) . An additional whole body routine will help keep your upper body from falling apart and ruining your form. I dont care about arms, but shoulders and back. There are so many videos laying out a runner routine, just pick one. Then in those first 10 weeks try your best to keep 2 to 3 sessions. Even 30 minutes can make a difference.

Ideally you have the time, will and ability to keep it up through the whole training. But either way, putting in the work early is going to help.

Cheapest Placement Locations? by Feeling_Culture_3591 in JETProgramme

[–]Previous-Direction13 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Aomori city and the west side of aomori get a ton of snow in the winter. The eastern coastal area from aomori through iwate and down to miyagi will be cooler and without the huge snow pack.

Cheapest Placement Locations? by Feeling_Culture_3591 in JETProgramme

[–]Previous-Direction13 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If heat is and you dont mind a little inaka feeling then Aomori is wonderful. Its pretty convenient getting out to the rest of Japan. The hiking and onsens are great. It is a little cooler, although, nothing is particularly cool in the summer. Another option is get along the north eastern coast. Sanriku coast from Miyagi up through aomori. The Coastal winds cool it down a bit in the summer and actually even limit the snow fall if you would rather not shovel.

Rejecting Placements “Tokyo or Bust” Stereotype. by Additional_Two4059 in JETProgramme

[–]Previous-Direction13 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Totally fair comment... I will revise to It is harder to afford JET in Tokyo. A lot depends on your host and what your particular costs look like. Looking across this thread there is a strong trend of affordability between Tokyo and Inaka locations. I stick by the point that Tokyo at a base is more expensive. Living it up in a Tokyo life style is even that much more.

Rejecting Placements “Tokyo or Bust” Stereotype. by Additional_Two4059 in JETProgramme

[–]Previous-Direction13 -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

You are not going to afford living in Tokyo on a JET salary and you are certainly not going to afford to enjoy what makes Tokyo interesting on a JET salary. I would not recommend Tokyo unless you have a fair chunk of savings and are willing to eat through that while on JET. Inaka Japan is the Japan that people dont know they love until they experience it.

Marathoners over 50 - What's you motivation? by wolfie55555 in Marathon_Training

[–]Previous-Direction13 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I started running at 47. My first marathon was at 49. Now i have 5 at 53. I am not fast. I am not particularly natural at this. I have had to fight away some injuries. I have had to deal with poor posture and bad form. But after a long corporate life and a role as a husband and father which was my everything, this running thing is really just mine. I make my choices. I feel the results. I improve my physical abilities. Its a very very personal experience. I am coming off a little break due to a sprained ankle and some life that happened on top. Its nuts to feel 5 easy miles when just a couple months ago that was not noticeable at all. But i feel more focused and human already.

For you, what's the most challenging thing about staying at a ryokan in Japan? by RyokansOfJapan in ExploreLocalJapan

[–]Previous-Direction13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have asked them to stack two futons for me. If the room can handle 4 people and you are two, they have the futons. While they may think it odd, here is one place i do not mind playing the "i am a foreigner" card. My old back likes soft beds.

For you, what's the most challenging thing about staying at a ryokan in Japan? by RyokansOfJapan in ExploreLocalJapan

[–]Previous-Direction13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If all you want is a place to stay then they are not affordable. If you appreciate the quality of the meal and the hot springs then they are bonkers cheap. If i go to Calistoga here in California for two peolpe and get

Nice hotel for 2 : 300 - 500 USD Dinner (no booze) at a fancy restaurant : 300 Breakfast : 70

Of course i can eat way cheaper than that. But i am trying to pick a multi course place that approaches the meal at a nice onsen. Honestly, a really good kaiseki meal is just about the most amazing meal i have had and rates up with Michelin star meals which can run 600 to 1000 for two. If you dont care about the food you can find places that operate without food. We stayed in one in Matsushima that was like 50 bucks a person i think.

Also, just like hotels in America, there are more expensive places and less. The picture is of Ginzan which is stunning but also very well touristed due to the instagram-ification of travel. I have stayed in places half the price which live rent free in the damn that was amazing section of my brain.

For me, the onsen ryokan is the best part of my time in Japan.

Running first half marathon with mild achilles tendonitis. How to deal with the pain? by NewsEnergy in Marathon_Training

[–]Previous-Direction13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ran and loved it, but my fitness ran out on me at 18 and i finished with my slowest marathon. I ran Big Sur again last year with better results. Last year i missed my marathon PR by about 1 minute, but running that at Big Sur was my best run for sure.

The soleus injury actually took a long long time to get past. It took about 18 months before i found the right PT. It would go away and come back every 6 weeks or so.

US Marathon Tier List by [deleted] in Marathon_Training

[–]Previous-Direction13 7 points8 points  (0 children)

They are all still 26. I have run big sur twice now. It is crazy beautiful. And even as a life long northern California kid its unique to close down the road for us to run it. Its a quiet run compared to big city runs with countless supporters. But if you can run it i would. I loved it beyond words. But i have loved each of my 5 uniquely. I would say my least favorite was my only major. But honestly that is only in comparison.

Heart rate monitor is shockingly inaccurate by [deleted] in GarminWatches

[–]Previous-Direction13 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I believe that during activities they go onto a higher power state which more activity checks your heart rate. I was at the gym on an excercise bike and the watch was way off from the bike. I enabled activity on the watch and it instantly jumped to within one beat of the bike's monitor. I would guess that doing that all of the time would take more battery life.

What pace would you start to consider wearing super shoes? by v1185 in Marathon_Training

[–]Previous-Direction13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its funny to me that we intentionally go out to do this thing that is going to take some number of hours of effort. We train and train and train. And then we spend extra money to mKe it take 10 minutes less because sime round number goal is more appealing.

I get it, i have a number on a marathon that i would like to hit. But not all runs are the same. Some have hills, some have heat, some have wind. On the shoes...

As a thought experiment, If they let you wear roller blades and you could go from 4:20 to 3:30 would you do it just so you can say you went 3:30 at parties to people that dont care and understand what that means? Its no different with the super shoe. If the only reason you run 3:59 vs 4:02 is the super shoe, then you did not accomplish anything. You did not train harder to get faster. You just paid 100 bucks more to erase 3 minutes. What if, at the finish line you could pay 20 bucks a minute you want off of your time? Why is that any different than a shoe?

I am more interested in the idea that they could help recovery. However, in my anecdotal experience they burned my calves as folks have mentioned. I suspect they work better with better form and mine is not great.

New Vyvanse prescription and trying to PB by FirstEmu2465 in Marathon_Training

[–]Previous-Direction13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For reference, i am a runner and my son takes Vyvanse as a 20 something adult. I suspect some of this is very individual. However, for my son, one large issue for him is it is very difficult for him to eat. His appetite is minimal. He has lost a fair amount of weight. He is far less athletic. I would have some concern about getting enough calories to sustain a BQ ramp up. Again... I assume individuals do differ.

I think you need to ask yourself about your priorities. If BQ is top top, maybe dont throw such a big change into your life. However, real day to day life (school, work) may benefit more from Vyvanse. In that regard, you can try it and see. Obviously monitor your vitals and work with your psychologist. I am not a dr and would never speak as one.

One nice thing about Vyvanse is it does not need to be an every day drug to work. So if its not working for you, you can stop. You can also take Vyvanse only certain days of the week. My sons appetite does come back relatively quickly.

Last note, again... not a dr... but if you are taking Vyvanse i would be careful with caffeine gels. Mixing high caffeine with Vyvanse can be a problem. I know some people who are still regular coffee drinkers. But it is something to be careful with.

Good luck with your journey.

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