Whilst efficiency isn't a grading criteria in the IBR, it can certainly be the difference between finishing and not. In this case, it served me well. Going in, I had no illusions of being even remotely competitive - those days passed with the Avon tire crash that totaled my beloved ST. I basically had three goals, 1) don't crash myself or the bike and make it back to Minneapolis in one piece, 2) have fun, 3) finish. I managed to do all three and am pretty darn happy with that.
Turns out I piloted the only Aprilia to ever be in an IBR, let alone finish (after having done so, it's really no surprise that Aprilia isn't a big LD marquee but she did run good and I'm pleased with that). I've also managed to finish the IBR with the lowest recorded miles ever. I had a fantastic rally and an incredible ride. So, while I didn't ride the huge miles I might once have done, in the end, those 11 days are really only the very small tip of a very large riding life.
Earlier in this thread someone remarked that the IBR is a glass ceiling that they'll never reach - it's easy to think that but, in the end, we tend to only truly regret the things we didn't do.