Liza Howard

Liza Howard

Liza Howard is a long-time is a longtime ultrarunner who lives in San Antonio, Texas. She teaches for NOLS Wilderness Medicine, coaches, directs the non-profit Band of Runners, and drives her kids around in a minivan.

July 2011
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Scantily clad photo shoot

LizaLiza

So there I was last Monday, a super-sized bag of Skittles in hand, reading my e-mail. It’d been hard watching all the running at Western States from the sidelines. I didn’t think it was particularly hard at the time. Crewing with Brian and Chris was great. But after I’d bought and eaten two face-sized cookies at the airport on the way home, I realized it had been hard. Personal insight and revelation through junk food. So anyway, the Skittles and I were working through my issues when I saw an e-mail from New Balance in my inbox. Hmmm.
Liza we’d like to get some photos of you this week in the new MT110s.
What!?! I just ate a big bag of Skittles! Face-sized cookies! (I’ll spare you the other Western States indulgences.) Photos this week?
I put down the empty bag of Skittles and started doing sit-ups and plucking my eyebrows.
But wait, there’s more…
New Balance said they’d send a race kit to wear in the photos. I imagined a singlet and shorts. Yes?
Oh no. This is what was in the tiny mailing envelope that was delivered this morning.

20110701-110723.jpg

Lord in Heaven!! This is not something you spring on a 39 year-old woman.
None-the-less, from 5 to 8pm I ran back and forth in this outfit in front of two hardworking photographers.
Here is the gear they needed to get a good shot.

20110701-111049.jpg

20110701-111138.jpg

The photographers were wonderfully kind and it was only necessary to eat half a bag of potato chips and drink two beers afterwards.
In point of fact, I also wore two other outfits with a bit more material for the pictures. I made the change squatting behind a live oak on the Recharge Trail in Government Canyon. It was 97 degrees and I almost dislocated my shoulder trying to get the sports bra off. So which photos will NB use? Guess we’ll all see. Asa’s babysitter did say: “You don’t even look like a mom!” when she saw me in the racing two piece. So there’s that.
Truly, though, the whole thing was very exciting — and entirely surreal. Thanks for the adventure New Balance. And wait until y’all see the shoes. The shiny silver ones say “Field Tested in Bandera, TX” on the inside. All moms will run faster wearing them.

Comments 8
  • footfeathers
    Posted on

    footfeathers footfeathers

    Reply Author

    I’m guessing your site traffic got a boost due to today’s title. Is that the Jenn Shelton signed outfit? Yeah!


    • lizahoward
      Posted on

      lizahoward lizahoward

      Reply Author

      Strangely the traffic has been low. Should have mentioned Elvis. This will be my pacing outfit from here on out. I believe I am almost a score older than Ms. Shelton.


  • niki
    Posted on

    niki niki

    Reply Author

    Can’t wait to see the shoes!!! (and i’m pretty sure your 39 yr old ultrarunning mom body puts most 20 year olds to shame, my friend….)


    • lizahoward
      Posted on

      lizahoward lizahoward

      Reply Author

      I credit the obesity epidemic. 😉


  • Lisa
    Posted on

    Lisa Lisa

    Reply Author

    Oh my goodness Liza- I am laughing my head off. You are just too much! That is so cool that you are working with a major shoe company! And that comment “You don’t even look like a mom” hilarious! I mean really, Liza, what kind of mom ARE you? ha!ha!ha! That “running” outfit would be a great bikini…


    • lizahoward
      Posted on

      lizahoward lizahoward

      Reply Author

      Oh, it’ll be my swimsuit from here on out. Certainly covers less than what I’m wearing now. The whole thing was this strange mix between wonderfully exciting and horrifying.


  • Aliza Lapierre
    Posted on

    Aliza Lapierre Aliza Lapierre

    Reply Author

    So good to meet you in person at WS. You look great and so nice to see you smiling. During the race someone asked me if I was “Liza” and I said yes. Then the direction of conversation lead to Texas, Rocky Raccoon, Leadville and I had to make a correction that I was “A-Liza” from Vermont. They didn’t seem nearly as impressed 🙂

    Hoping you are well,

    Aliza


    • lizahoward
      Posted on

      lizahoward lizahoward

      Reply Author

      It was so great to meet you! I hope our paths cross again soon. Bandera?