Then when I've figured out that I've picked the wrong race, and the wrong birthsign, and have raised the wrong stats --- this usually takes about three hours of play -- I'll start a Breton. At that point I'll realize I haven't figured out the magic system well enough to use a lot of magica and try a woodelf. The woodelf will be annoying after the first half-hour and I'll try another nord and just hit things again for a while.
Sooner or later I'll figure out what I understand best about the system and stick with that through the main quest. Eventually I'll play about every race at least once if only for a couple of hours.