This week the training has been good. A week ago I tested yoga for 1,5 hours and totally 10 workouts. This week it will be 9 workouts. This including two HIIT (high intensive interval training) workouts. Yesterday I went up early, an lugging the wheel as usual:-).

It has started to become spring, but when I woke up this morning the snow was back..

Acclimatization in one interesting topic. At the Mid University they have been study this for a time. Focus in there study is the spleen(sv. Mjälten) The spleen is a dynamic reservoir of blood with a high concentration of red blood cells. This reservoir can be used when its needed. The scientist was doing a pilot study at Louboche Peak (Nepal) when the test persons hold their breath, they could recognize a increasing of the HB level in the blood. But they also could see that, as the result decreased at higher altitude. Another study was they followed 11 trekkers of their tour at Rolwaling (Nepal). The trekkers went up to 4200m, the volume of the spleen was measured at 1370m, 3700m and 4200m. In rest at all of the altitudes the volume of the spleen has decreased with a higher level of HB was measured. The test persons also tested with a ”step test” at the same altitudes. There is knowledge that also physical training  will decrease the volume of the spleen. What the scientist could see was that even if the spleen already has decrease its volume, it still decrease with physical activity. The knowledge of that, told the scientist that  the spleen has a very central function of the adaption to high altitude, before a real acclimatization is done. So the conclusion of the research so far, will therefor be; The spleen looks to have a important function, in the acute situation when you end up in a fatigue oxygen environment. The function of the spleen will be to compensate the lack of oxygen with a higher level of HB. Of a longer time (3 weeks) you can se a result of that the spleen will increase its volume. But after 2 month there is no difference since before. The research is still on going, and I will report more as soon as I got the information..And thank you Angelica Lodin Sundström for the information.

Ulf Bergman with AMS (acute mountain sickness) at Mt Damavand Iran. (just vomiting three times:-). (photo Mattias Jansson)  

I am also planning for upcoming tours. It might be a tour to Härjedalen, but nothing is set,yet.

And here a inspiring film of Scotland and cycling:

And this week inspiring music video look and listening:-)

And now I am going out for a workout, see ya soon. Wednesday…