My 1st Birkebeiner

My first Birkie on Saturday.
I've heard everything from:
"You'll be flying. Once it opens up after 12k you'll be passing everyone."
to:
"By the time you hit the downhills the troughs will be knee deep and glare ice."
Great.

Monday
1:30 on the trainer
>> moderate, nothing really intense

Tuesday
Cold again (-10).
1:30 on rollers
>> mostly easy
>> hard to ride inside two days in a row

Wednesday
Cold. Again. (-15).
1:20 on the trainer (grinding away)
>> If it'd just warm up I could go for a run.

Thursday
Yoga in the AM with Holly.
2hr spin in the evening @ Trailhead
>> Neil, Jeff & Paul
>> fairly easy effort
>> watched "The Flying Scotsman"

Friday
6 mile run
>> felt great to get outside again

Saturday
My 1st Birkie - 3:08 (708th place out of 2961)
>> 51k - hills - torn up snow - PEOPLE
>> Holy cow that was hard.
>> I got to halfway and thought it was the finish.
>> What a circus. Totally worth it.
>> The beer at the end never tasted so good...

Sunday
An easy hour on the rollers
>> my legs really loosened up after this
Swimming with Lilly