Athlete Name: Hannah Camic
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Education: Bucknell University
Tell us a little about yourself
It’s hard to figure out the words to define yourself. Mom is my favorite title. I have an amazing 9-year-old daughter named Noelle. I also am a science teacher at Bethel Park High School. I am so lucky to have so many amazing people in my life. Being surrounded by family and friends makes for a happy and healthy life. I’m consider myself to be a caring person. I’m passionate and competitive. I love challenges. In my free time, I enjoy running and photography and spending time with loved ones. On rainy days or sick days, HGTV is a great way to pass the time
“Running is my absolute favorite form of exercise. It serves as both mental and physical therapy."
Tell us what motivates you the most.
Family. My daughter, Noelle, and my brothers, Jake and Levi, are my biggest forms of motivation. I want to stay as healthy as I can for my daughter. I want to be able to participate in all of her activities and be around to be part of all her special moments and just the ordinary days. My older brother Jake, who also has CF, has faced so many hardships and seemingly insurmountable obstacles with his health, especially the past couple of years. He exhibits a quiet strength, and I think of him so often when I run. My younger brother, Levi, is an amazing athlete. He always believes in me, no matter how lofty my goal, and he encourages me, but takes the no excuse approach. Levi inspired me to sign up for my first half marathon.
Why do you exercise? Tell us a little about your marathon training.
Exercising plays a huge role in my life. It definitely keeps me sane and helps me fend off negative feelings and stress. Running is my absolute favorite form of exercise. It serves as both mental and physical therapy. The pounding on the pavement helps to loosen the thick mucus clogging my lungs and makes me feel victorious over CF. I try to find positives in each run. If I’m feeling good, I’ll be more competitive. If it’s a race, I’ll try to beat a personal best or pick someone out in the race to try to keep pace with. If I’m feeling less than top notch, I’ll use the run as mental fuel. I tell myself that if I can run while I’m that sick, imagine what I’ll be able to do when I feel better. I also think of people with CF who aren’t as fortunate as me. I may be struggling during a run, but they may feel that exhaustion and pain just making it through the day. Marathon training gives me plenty of opportunities to try all of these training strategies.
What is your pump-up song?
My pump-up song switches a lot, depending on my mood, but Nelly always gets me fired up. And the one song that never gets old is “I Lived” by One Republic.
What is your best fundraising tip?
Be persistent. I know that I have intentions of donating to many fundraisers, but will forget about it if I don’t do it immediately. A friendly reminder can go a long way. Also, make sure people understand what a HUGE impact their generosity is making. Share real world stories and let people know how much progress we’ve made because of them!
