Canadian turned New Yorker, marathoner Liza Howard discusses life in NYC

Liza Howard, a native of Toronto, was the top Canadian female finisher at the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon last weekend. Howard trains with the Henwood Hounds in Manhattan and just obtained a master’s degree in food studies from New York University.

We talked to Howard about being the top Canadian at the NYC Marathon and why there’s more to be desired despite running a lifetime best on Nov. 1.

Canadian Running: Tell us a bit about your running background.

Liza Howard: I grew up and went to high school in Toronto and trained with the Toronto Olympic Club (which I’m still a part of today) before going to Queen’s University for my undergraduate degree. I competed on the track and field team there and decided to move to New York to pursue a master’s degree in food studies at New York University.

CR: You were the top Canadian in NYC and ran a personal best time but were still disappointed. Why?

LH: I was aiming for 2:45 going into Sunday’s race so I’m disappointed with the 2:49:05 despite it being a personal best. But it’s still motivating knowing I ran faster than I ever have before at the same time I knew I was in a lot better shape than my time indicated.

RELATED: Tom McGrath and Liza Howard top Canadians at NYC Marathon.

CR: You continue to use personal best instead of personal record. How does that sit with Americans?

LH: [Laughs] I get continually teased for using the term personal best or PB rather than adopting the American version. I never use personal record or PR like everyone here does.

CR: The coach of the Henwood Hounds is John Henwood, the New York coach for Mary Cain. Do you ever train with her and does she join workouts?

LH: My coach is actually Greg Purkis, who coaches at the Toronto Olympic Club. However, I have been training with John and the Henwood Hounds since I moved to New York two years ago. I race for his team here and do the group workouts as they fit with my training schedule so I’m not at every workout. I’ve never trained with Mary myself. She joins the others for workouts on occasion but because she is focused on track rather than the marathon distance, John will typically meet with her separately apart from the group.

CR: Tell us about your experience racing in and around your neighbourhoods this weekend.

LH: I train in Central Park on a daily basis so running on my home turf made the experience that much better. Knowing my teammates were in the race and that I would have support along the course was added motivation. Being in the sub-elite category was also a great experience. Warming up alongside Keitany, Kipsang and some of the world’s best runners on Staten Island just minutes before we had to line up on the start line was an unforgettable experience.

CR: You mentioned you studied food systems at NYU. Do you have a large emphasis on nutrition when it comes to running? Are you currently working in that field?

LH: I find nutrition interesting and it’s certainly an important component of training, but it wasn’t my focus at NYU. The food systems program looks more at the economic, political, and cultural factors in food production and consumption. I loved it, although I am not currently working in the field. Right now I work for a small landscape design company here in Manhattan.

CR: What’s next in terms of training and racing?

LH: Well after a relatively disappointing race last weekend, my plans have changed a bit. I’ll look for a spring marathon but I’m undecided on which one at this point. 

My American work visa expires in June, and I probably won’t stay in New York. There are so many things I love about running and living here — the running community is massive, for instance– but I think by next summer it will be time for a change. Also, I miss running on real trails!

And yes, regardless of where I end up living I plan to keep training with the goal of one day becoming a fast marathoner.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.