rabbitELITEtrail Racer Bree Lambert Wins The Tahoe Rim Trail ?

For the third time in the last decade, but the first time since 2011 rabbitELITEtrail racer Bree Lambert took the win at the Tahoe Rim Trail 100. After having to DNF at the 2017 edition of Western States, Bree bounced back late last summer with a top 5 at the Headlands 50k, a podium at the Skyline to the Sea 50k and a strong top 15 performance at the Sean O’Brien 100k in February. These select races, mixed with consistent training and proper recovery lead to a tremendous effort last weekend in Lake Tahoe. We wanted to get the inside scoop from Bree herself, so we sat down for a quick interview earlier this week.

Congrats on your win Bree! What are you feeling & thinking right at this moment?

I feel really proud of myself for running my race. I told myself that no matter what I would finish. I wanted to stay clear headed and do everything in my power to run my best. I think I did just that and am so happy with the outcome.

How has your 2019 season gone so far?

So far my season has gone really well. It started with a tough Sean O’Brien 100k and then another Miwok 100k. Both races I placed well given the difficulty of the courses. SOB 12th OA /2ND AG and Miwok 5th OA/1st AG Both races were used as trainers for TRT.

What were the last two months build up & taper like for you?

I trained through both SOB and Miwok. So literally there wasn’t much down time. Rather I just used SOB as prep for Miwok. Miwok was my gauge for fitness. I finished Miwok feeling satisfied with how quickly I recovered and could continue to keep training. My last two months have been pretty consistent with 60-80 mile weeks. I gave myself a two week taper with almost no running the week before the race.

What did you take away from WS100 in 2017?

I took away a ton. I wasn’t physically strong enough. I didn’t spend the time putting in quality mileage. I had a lot going on in my personal life which I think really interfered with training consistency. I was also reminded that I need to run my race.
Most of the elite field went out way to hard at States last year. I followed suit and given the conditions blew up by the time I hit Devil’s Thumb. I practically crawled to Michigan Bluff and when I hit Foresthill I knew I was done.

How can a racer turn a DNF into a positive experience like you have?

Great question! Go back to why you run. What is it about running that makes you do it? You have to run because of the love for it. At least that is what I believe. Then, everything else follows. If you can also learn from what went wrong and be honest and willing to find what works for you then that’s when there may be a better outcome. However, you have to be willing to make changes and not just follow what other people are doing.

Excellent advice! Plans for the next month or two?

Not sure just yet. I will likely hold off racing until late August. I think recovery is key to success so I won’t push my body to compete until I know it’s time.

In that light, number one recovery tip?

Nutrition has to be solid. The body needs to be fed good fuel to perform well and recover. Without good gas you can’t perform or rebuild.

End of the season goals and beyond?

I’ll likely race two more 50k’s. The North Face 50 in December is on my radar. Next year I may return to TRT again or Leadville. We shall see.

Favorite price of rabbit gear & why?
Overall, I have been super happy with every rabbit tank I have. However, I love the new tape breaker. It breathes well and fits perfectly. I like to feel like I am running FREE and this tank gives me that feeling.

As a mom, business woman and athlete, Bree has over 20 years of endurance training and racing experience. Learn more about her on her website, Live Well Finish Strong and stay tuned for more big results from Bree in the months to come.