Q&A: Hannah Campbell
Sep 21, 2017 | Cross Country
Track teammate Augusta Thomason interviewed Campbell about the season, her summer and more.
AT: What did your summer training consist of?
"I was in Colorado, fortunately, so I got high-altitude training which I've been wanting. I did my best to stick to the plan that Coach McRaven had for us and I ran with the Durango Running Club. The first month or two we worked on mileage. My mileage goal was to be at 55 miles per week by the end of summer."
AT: How would you sum up your sophomore year and what are your personal goals for the season?
"Last cross country season started off good. It was my first full year of training. I was out for one meet and unable to travel during championship season, but by track season I was ready to come back full force and my mile and 1500 improved significantly. This year I'm currently sitting top 5 or top 6. I want to sit up there in the top 4 and make top 2 in SEC's. Arkansas is a huge competitor but I think our team is capable of it and we have some good freshmen on the team this year. And, of course, nationals is always a dream."
AT: How is the team looking this year and is there anyone you expect to step up?
"I think our team is the best we've seen in a while. We have two freshmen, Maddie Vondra and Kylie Purifoy, whose hard work is paying off and you can see all the potential they have in store. We work a lot better as a team this year, our personalities click and we are encouraging of each other."
AT: Who are your rivals or toughest competitors that you look forward to racing?
"It depends on the team and who they bring to that meet. Texas isn't in our conference, so whenever we race them, it's exciting. Arkansas is amazing, and I have so much respect for them, so I like to see where we are in relation to them. And racing all of the SEC teams in one meet is also exciting because you get to see where you stand in the conference."
AT: What is an ideal course layout for you?
"Running hills is a weakness, so I tried to work them this summer in Colorado. I'm going to be opposite of most runners when I say this, but I like having multiple loops instead of one long loop because it's easier to gauge pacing myself and evaluate how I'm feeling. It may seem repetitive but you know what's coming."
AT: Do you have any ritual you have to do right before you race?
"I always eat the same thing, whether it's a morning or night meet. It's scrambled eggs with avocado and half a bagel with peanut butter and banana. I personally have a hard time finding time to sleep a lot but I know there's a race day coming up I always make sure to get good sleep two days before and the day before a meet."
AT: What is your race strategy?
"Yes, last year I thought when Coach McRaven would say, 'Race as a team', I just thought it was encouraging. But I learned at the Georgia meet that when you race together and you are running physically next to somebody on your team, it helps so much to have someone there. It's so encouraging and you know if you drop off that you're going to lose points, so I need to stay with my team. I like to run with Lauryn Barrientos and she beat me on our last hill but I know without her that I would have been long gone."
AT: What is your focus for this weekend's meet?
"Coach says, "If you've never raced a course, there is no personal best.' Every course has a different layout and length. But I do know this course since it's a home meet and I love improving my time."
AT: What is the team dynamic like going into race day?
"I think everyone deals with pre-race anxiety differently. I have stages of mine where I'm super excited and talkative and then really quiet and nervous where I just want to listen to music and sit alone. We know what each other wants at this point, so if someone needs encouragement before the race, we know to give them encouragement. And if they want to be alone, we let them be because we know that's what is going to make them be their best."
AT: What meets are you looking forward to this year?
"I'm really excited to go back to Georgia for SEC's. The course is really tough, it's on a golf course and has killer hills. Everyone is in it together and when you finish, it's a huge rush of accomplishment. Last race against them I don't think we did the best we could have, but now that we know where they're at and where we're at, I'm excited to race them again."
AT: Does coach McRaven give a pep talk that gets you excited to run and how is your athlete-to-coach relationship with him?
"Coach is really open and loves to talk. Sometimes if you ask him what time he wants you to run he tells us, 'It's all on you, you know what you're capable of.' I remember one practice we were running hills, which is obviously my least favorite, and he was off to the side just yelling, 'You love this, Campbell! You know you love this. All that Colorado training, this is your time!' I just started laughing because it honestly helps."
AT: What are your hobbies outside of running?
"I like to be outside hiking, biking, playing cards and roommate breakfasts. I love thinking and talking about my future career-wise. I know I want to work for a company I really enjoy and live somewhere new like Colorado or California. I'm also on the financial development committee for Maggies, a women's organization at A&M. It's a good group to have outside of track that is supportive no matter how I do in meets."
AT: Do you have a motto or quote you live by?
"A Maggies speaker once said, 'Make friends that aren't impressed by you.' I really liked this because you're more than just 'that athlete' out on the track. Good friends know you are worth much more than what happens out on the course."
Players Mentioned
