Running: A Fever

And now it's time for the perennial favorite top 10 list of the oldest people ever. Living to be 100 is still very rare. According to World Population Review, in 2025, there were an estimated 573,000 to 630,000 centenarians worldwide, though estimates vary wildly, I can tell you. A centenarian is someone who is over 100 years old. The breakdown by country is interesting. Japan has the most, with 123,330. The U.S. is second, with far fewer, 73,629. Then China and India. It's interesting because these are absolute numbers, not per-capita numbers. You'd think China and India would be up there, and Japan is tiny in comparison. If you want to see the complete list, visit the reference links in the blog post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/442. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/442  

It's a beautiful day at Dean's Trail. We've had a couple of days of nice, relatively cool weather. Alexa weather before that had been very wrong for a few days to the tune of like 10 degrees off the highs. We would say it's 77 and it's actually gonna be wound up being 91 or something. So, But it's very nice today. 70 is nice. The breeze is cool. And I'm enjoying it. I get to work really, really early in the morning. I usually don't take a lunch break and I get off really early in the afternoon. Or, you know, let's just say at least early afternoon. Leaning towards mid-afternoon. Started this walk at 2:30 if that'll give you an idea.   Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/441  

If you're watching on YouTube, you're in for a treat today—you get to see me at my ugliest in living 4K video. My right eye is black and swollen. I know what you're thinking: Did I lose a fight? Am I being abused? Who would do this to me? I could say something like, "You should see the other guy." But in fact, the other guy is my doctor, and yes, he did this on purpose—with my full consent. I had surgery yesterday on my eyelid, and this is how you look after someone cuts part of your eyelid off. So, why would I go through such a thing?

I came across an article in National Geographic from a few months ago. It's called "The Secret to a Long, Healthy Life: Your lifespan is overrated. It's health span that really matters now." It's about longevity and what some people call health span. Health span, as opposed to lifespan, refers to the period of life when you are healthy. We all hope we won't end our lives in an extended illness or disability that impacts our quality of life, and, as I usually say in the opening, my goal is to live a long, healthy, happy, active life right up to the very end. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/439  

In the last few episodes, we've been talking about how our digital devices can affect our health. Today, we're continuing that in this, the fifth and final episode of the series. If the last few episodes have felt a little heavy—don't worry. This one's all about solutions. We're talking about how to reclaim your time, your focus, and your peace of mind in a world that's always online. From eye strain to endless scrolling, we're going to explore simple, science-backed strategies to help you reset your relationship with screens—without going off the grid. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/438  

Happy New Year! This is our first episode of 2026. I hope you had a great 2025 and are ready to accomplish great things this year. For me, it's always a moment of disbelief that another year has passed, seemingly so quickly, but I'm determined this year to pack everything good that I can into the stream of life.

Well, I'm out on the Spring Creek Trail, north side, today. And it looks pretty different from the last time here. The main difference is that the construction site is completely gone. I mean, the construction is gone, but the site, obviously, remains. It is very different. And no video today. One reason is that it's dark. But the trail is actually lighted now. It might have been for a while. It probably has, but I haven't been out here in a while. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/436  

So why is it fun to drive a car? Scientifically, I mean. The most apt word I can think of to describe the feeling of driving a fast car on a curvy road is exhilaration. Biologically, this is caused by a combination of neurotransmitters and hormones, primarily dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (also known as adrenaline). These chemicals, when combined, create a feeling of joy, excitement, and increased alertness. Dopamine drives the reward system and is released in response to novel and exciting stimuli. Adrenaline and norepinephrine, on the other hand, prepare the body for action by increasing energy levels through a surge in heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow to muscles. This neurochemical flood, triggered by events like risky play or falling in love, stimulates various brain systems to produce the psychological experience of intense, pleasurable excitement. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/435 Photo by Amy Patrick

We're in the middle of a series about Screentime and Your Health. And by the way, you can access the entire series on a YouTube playlist called Screentime and Health. You can find it on my channel at YouTube.com/@runningafever. We've already enlightened ourselves on two aspects of this topic: sedentary life and sleep effects. Today, we're moving on to how screen time affects our brains. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/434  

This series, "Screentime and Your Health," highlights the health risks of overusing electronic devices. I think I was previously unaware of the dangers involved. But I'm starting to get the picture. In the last episode, we discussed how excessive screen time can hinder our ability to lead an active life by making us more sedentary and decreasing our motivation to be physically active. This is part two of the series, focusing on the topic of "Screens vs. Sleep." Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/433  

As usual, when I'm finding topics for the show, I started hearing about how screen time should be limited and maybe we should all be wearing glasses that block out "blue light." Why? There are screens everywhere now. At work, you have at least one, maybe more, computer screens; I have three. Plus the smartphone, which goes everywhere with you. How about the TV you turn on when you get home from work? Even when working out, we have screens on our exercise bikes or treadmills that show us stats or video that lets us imagine we're outside somewhere, or let us watch the news while we sweat. Maybe your kids play video games for hours on end. Screens are everywhere, and we use them because we think they are helpful or entertaining. So they have just become a part of life. They are ubiquitous. However, if there is something unhealthy about them, it could impact our whole lives, and the impact could be significant. So I set about digging into this concept and trying to find out the real deal. Read the full post at: h

It's part 6 of our series on Menopause. Today we're closing out our series with something bold, beautiful, and deeply personal: reclaiming power. Menopause is often framed as an ending — the end of fertility, the end of youth, the end of vitality. But what if it's actually a beginning? What if this transition is an invitation to rewrite your story, rediscover your voice, and realign with what truly matters? In this episode, we're flipping the script. You'll hear stories of reinvention, creativity, and courage. We'll talk about how menopause can spark new purpose, new passions, and even new careers. Because this isn't about fading — it's about evolving. So whether you're in the thick of it, just beginning, or looking back with wisdom — this episode is for you. Let's reclaim the narrative. Let's reclaim our power. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/431  

It's our birthday! Believe it or not, we've been running a fever for eight years now. And this episode is the first of our ninth year. Yes, the anniversary date is two days ago, November 17. Back in 2017, we started with literally a walk in the park. Four hundred thirty episodes later, we can look back on a wealth of information and the sharing of my health journey over the long term. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/430  

Menopause isn't just a hormonal shift — for active women, it can feel like the body's playbook has been rewritten mid‑game. Endurance that once came easily may fade faster, recovery can take longer, and the fuel that used to power a run might suddenly fall short. But this isn't the end of the race — it's a new course to master. In this 4th episode of our series on menopause, we'll explore how midlife changes in metabolism, muscle repair, and energy balance affect training, and how smart adjustments in workouts, nutrition, and hydration can help you stay strong. We'll also discuss how physical activity can actually help women adjust to the changes and ameliorate their symptoms. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/429  

What if one day you woke up and felt like a stranger in your own body—but no one ever warned you it could happen? We're in the middle of a series on menopause. In the last episode, we discussed the emotional and mental impact and how it works in the brain and body, and shared some stories from real people on the issue. This time we're talking about an even more taboo subject: andopause, sometimes called male menopause. I think we'll get some insight on this. It's not just a medical phenomenon but a cultural blind spot. Let's start again with some true stories: Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/428

In this episode, we'll again hear from some real people. And we're going into the emotional and mental aspects. How does menopause, and specifically the reduction in estrogen, affect one's mental health and emotional well-being? We'll go into some science, we'll talk about how it feels and why, and we'll offer some coping strategies that may help you or your loved one get through the change in one piece. Finally, I have a striking story that illustrates just how profound the mental effects can be on a person. But first, let's hear some relations of real experience with this. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/427  

Today, we're launching a new series that delves into a topic often whispered about, misunderstood, or overlooked: menopause. Whether you're going through it, know someone who is, or think it's decades away—this conversation is for you. Because menopause isn't just a medical milestone. It's a transformation. A reckoning. A rebirth. In this series, we'll explore the emotional and mental terrain of menopause, the physical shifts that challenge even the most seasoned athletes, and yes—we'll talk about male menopause too. You'll hear stories from real people, insights from experts, and strategies for thriving through the change. So lace up. This isn't just about hormones—it's about power, identity, and the endurance to keep running through every chapter of life. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/426  

Speaking of livin' long. Well, you now know that this episode is about Sarah Knauss, the third-longest-lived person ever. You may be aware that I previously published an episode about her, number 169, in 2019. If you'd like to check it out, you can visit RunningAFEVER.com/169, but you don't have to, as I'll recap what we covered in that episode here. I'm doing another episode for the same reason I did a 2nd episode on Jeanne Calment. There is now more information available, and I wanted to publish an update to share it with you. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/425  

I haven't been watching it lately, but I enjoy a YouTube show called That Pedal Show, which is ostensibly about guitar effects pedals but actually delves into a variety of music-related topics, including classic guitars, playing techniques, and genres of music. They often feature guest musicians representing various genres, as well as other guests who are involved in the guitar and effects industry. One of the co-hosts has an interest in philosophy and is seeking to improve his life, mental health, and overall happiness. On the show, he recommended a book by Japanese philosopher Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga, a professional writer. The title is The Courage To Be Disliked: How to free yourself, change your life, and achieve real happiness. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/424 Photo by Aboodi Vesakaran: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-reading-the-courage-to-be-disliked-outdoors-29378821/  

Recently, I started hearing about probiotics. How I heard about them was through some advertisements, probably on YouTube or Amazon Prime. A particular actress, Maggie Q, was promoting them. Maggie Q is known for playing the lead role in the action/spy TV series Nikita. She's also currently playing LAPD detective Renee Ballard in the Amazon Prime series Ballard, based on the novels of Michael Connelly. Q founded a company called ActivatedYou. They sell a wide variety of supplements, many of which focus on digestive health, including at least two probiotic products. Read the full post at http://RunningAFEVER.com/423 Image by Alicia Harper https://pixabay.com/users/alicia_harper-16897639/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=5308379