Ann Whatmore: A Fearless Adventurer Who Proves Severe Asthma Doesn’t Set Limits – Cycling 3000km Across the UK on a Recumbent E-Trike

Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode, we’re joined by the fearless Ann Whatmore, an adventurer who proves that asthma doesn’t have to set limits on what you can achieve. Ann has faced numerous health challenges, but rather than letting them hold her back, she’s embraced adventure in a big way.

In May 2024, she cycled over 3,000km across the UK on her recumbent e-trike, “Bob,” completing a solo journey from Land’s End to Orkney before speaking at Yestival.

This was no easy feat – Ann had only a sixth of her lung function available and had to rely on determination, resourcefulness, and a supportive community to make the journey possible. In this episode, Ann shares how she turned her dream into reality, navigating the ups and downs of planning such a massive adventure. She talks about the emotional and physical struggles of living with asthma, how she managed her condition on the road, and the lessons she learned along the way.

Whether you’re living with a chronic condition, longing for adventure, or simply looking for inspiration to push through your own barriers, Ann’s story is one you won’t want to miss.

Tune in to hear how Ann turned her “limitations” into an opportunity for growth and exploration, proving that the only true limits are the ones we place on ourselves.

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Show notes

• Who is Ann
• Having numerous health issues
• Being based near the Jurassic Coast, UK
• Living by the sea
• Not being able to explore the landscape as much as she would like
• Deciding to get a 3 wheeled e-trike (called Bob)
• Wanting to say yes to adventure
• Getting asthma problems after the age of 18
• Being able to manage her condition at 19
• Her early years growing up, being very sporty and outdoorsy
• Having horses and enjoying riding
• Getting covid on 21st march 2020 and how it impacted on her lung function
• Not being able to walk up stairs
• Being on high dose steroids and inhalers
• The mental challenges of dealing with health issues
• Grieving for the person she was
• Finding out her lungs have been damaged and developing breathing pattern disorders
• Joining adventure book clubs and listening to podcasts
• Bringing the adventures to her
• Finding positivity in other people adventures
• Looking for glimmers of hope
• Say Yes More Tribe
• Yestival - Dave Cornwaithe
• Losing her balance and co-ordination ability
• Finding out about trikes
• Free trike rehabilitation in Exeter
• Finding ways to fund her trike
• The price to have independence outside
• Bike to Work Scheme (UK)
• Having a bike fit check
• Going for short, local rides on flat ground
• Finding a little route and going out with her partner to gain confidence
• The plan for the adventure
• Taking a year to plan and how the journey changed
• BOOK: Britain Best Bike Ride: The ultimate thousand-mile cycling adventure from Land’s End to John o’ Groats - Hannah Reynolds & John Walsh
• Planning to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats
• Wanting to see Skara Brae in the Orkneys
• Making herself accountability and standing up on stage at Yestival to announce her challenge
• Deciding to finish the challenge at Yestival
• Committing to the 2,000 mile adventure!
• Figuring out how to charge her bike battery
• Not being able to wild camp and always needing to find a plug each day
• The reality of the challenge, compared to what she expected
• Having a supportive and encouraging partner
• Being able to enjoy it more
• Loving the highlands
• How her perception changed of what she could do
• Dealing with the hills…
• The feelings of ‘awe’
• Focusing on the next goal, and breaking down the challenge
• The kindness of strangers when you were at your lowest
• Big Sky Hideaway
• Adjusting back to normal life - after spending 50 days on the road
• Packing up her e-trike to go home and heading back to work
• Having 121 support
• The next challenge….
• Chase the Sun - 205 miles in 1 day
• The lessons learned from the experience
• Being vulnerable and asking for help when needed
• Fundraising for Asthma + Lung UK
• Sea Swimming
• Ice mile swim…
• Social media…
• How to connect with Ann
• Find your community
• Figure out what you can do
• Learning how to ask for help
• Saying yes to adventure and finding that support
• Find your tribe, say yes more

Social Media

Website www.wanderingwhatmore.com