It was a month ago that Marit Björgen, the premier winter Olympian of the time, sensationally announced that she will make a comeback next season with long runs and, above all, Vasaloppet as the big goal.
40-year-old Björgen left in April 2018 and is the mother of two small children who reduce their training time to a maximum of ten hours a week, where the longest single workout is two hours.
A roller ski pass last week with Therese Johaug became an alarm clock for Björgen about how much remains.
- I was put in place and now know what it takes. A lot has happened in two years if you can say that. Training is a fresh product, says Björgen to NRK.
"It took two years and two children for me to beat Björgen"Johaug smiles at the ex-ski queen's praise:
- It took two years and two children for me to beat Björgen in a fence interval. But I think her development curve will be steep, says Johaug who believes that Björgen can win the Vasaloppet.
- If Marit decides, I definitely think she has the opportunity, but she needs to train for it, says Johaug.
Björgen is part of 47-year-old Anders Aukland's stable and he points out that Swedes Lina Korsgren and Britta Johansson Norgren have set a new standard in long distance running. But that Björgen has just begun to push the long way back.
- Björgen doesn't have to be worried about getting hit by Johaug on training in June, says Aukland.