Growing up neurodiverse, Hannah Cragg remembers the sting of comments such as “lack of concentration” and “she can’t finish tasks.” As a child, she began attaching her self-worth to these comments. “I’m so grateful to all the teachers who supported my individuality and ultimately got me to where I am today. I always knew I was meant to move; it was simply my form of self-expression. I grew up dancing and loved performing, and ultimately studied towards an undergraduate degree in acting. I fell in love with telling stories and knew that one day I wanted to share my story with dyslexia and ADHD,” explains the 22-year-old.
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One of the hardest things Hannah’s had to unpack for herself was embodying movement as a way of being rather than a way to change, explaining that she had to reframe the language around exercise as a daily opportunity to grow, find inner strength, resilience and constantly meet herself halfway through movement. She cites running her first half-marathon as a turning point, saying: I told myself that if the self-talk got negative, I would walk until the finish line. By focusing on the positive and allowing myself to meet myself with love and compassion during tough times, I was developing strength – not just on a physical level,” she shares, adding her biggest takeaway has been surrounding herself with supportive people to overcome negative self-talk. “We are all human and we crave community,” she says.
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That sense of connection is something she carries into her fitness goals. Having completed five half-marathons, Hannah now has her sights set on a full marathon one day. In the meantime, she celebrates life with her own tradition – on her 21st birthday, she ran 21km; at 22, 22km. This year, she plans to tackle 23km on her birthday – and she’s inviting others to join, whether it’s 5km or the full 23. “It’s not about the distance,” she explains.
“It’s about celebrating life itself and inspiring others to find their own love for running.”
Fitness and health, for Hannah, serve as a lifeline. On some days she wakes up at 04h30 to smash a workout and eats clean, balanced meals with lots of water. Other days, she sleeps in, eats cake for breakfast and stays up late nights with friends. And when life gets too busy, Hannah turns to nutrition for balance. Prepping meals or stocking the fridge with whole foods ensures she’s fuelled, even if sleep or movement takes a backseat. “But I’ll never abandon myself for a fake quick fix,” she insists. “Every woman deserves to feel strong, confident, and connected to her body through every season.”
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Trivia With Hannah
One piece of fitness equipment you could never live without…
Headphones or speakers. When working out, my biggest motivation comes from my music.
What would your brain and body say if you were to suddenly quit working out…
If my mental health could speak, it would probably sound like a radio trying to tune into a channel – all the voices muffled, trying to communicate to me what’s happening inside my body. Possibly, there’s a slight state of panic as the build-up of energetic matter has nowhere to go, no place to be, or belong. Movement, in many ways, changed my life, and it is the way I support my mental health.
Get To Know Hannah
Remember… It’s never too late to start living well. Find the September/October (The Mind & Balance Issue) 2025 issue of Women’s Health on shelves now, or buy yourself a digital copy. Happy reading!
