Eight (8) Principles for Finding the Fountain of Youth- Part 13 , Western Sates100 and a Run for Keys

"The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything."– William Connor Magee

Eight (8) Principles for Finding the Fountain of Youth-Part 13


The power of the mind was further exemplified in the study that measured gut peptide (ghrelin). Ghrelin levels fall, in proportion to calories consumed. It is this chemical process that essentially communicates with your brain and gives the signal that you are no longer hungry and you do not need to search out food. Some patients were told that a milkshake had 620 calories and that were enough calories (feeling full) meaning your gut peptide level would fall. Therefore, you were full, and wouldn’t need to search out more food. The other patients were told that their milkshake had 120 calories (not full). What do you think happened to their peptide levels? Their gut peptide levels rose. They thought they needed more calories or food. As a result, they searched for more food.


In a study with Parkinson’s disease patients, the experimenters used real medication and a placebo. The researchers found that the placebo actually improved the patients Parkinson disease symptoms, just like the real medication did. Even with the placebo, the brain actually produced greater amounts of dopamine-the neurotransmitter known to be useful in treating the disease.

To be continued:


What an exciting weekend. The Western States 100 started early Saturday morning. The weather even with the cold temperature and rain turned out well for the runners. New records were set by Timothy Olson, age 28 at 14:46:44 and Ellie Greenwood, age 33 at 16:47:19. Congratulations go to them. Our friend Meghan Arbogast, age 51 was the seventh woman overall. Congratulations to her as well.


On Sunday, Secretariat and I drove to Todd Valley. We ran from White Oak Flat to Ford’s Bar to search for his car keys. He lost his keys, on the day when Carrie, Secretariat, and I ran the middle day of the Western States training run that went from Forest Hill to White Oak Flat. Secretariat realized he lost his keys after some 16 miles into that run. The decision , that day was to return to Forest Hill and call his wife Debbie so she could bring extra keys so we could drive his truck back. She did that, and we made it home safely. Guess what? Today was a good day as Secretariat found his lost keys? At Ford’s Bar he went directly to the correct bushes and there they were. What a memory. Today’s up and back run was a shade less than 17 miles. We were both tired, especially after the last 3 mile climb to White Oak Flat. As Fitzgerald would say” suffering is good.” We did not die, and will live to run another day.