About Me

Hi, I’m Holli Lovesy — radio presenter, average runner, and someone who apparently thought it would be fun to swap cocktails for kilometres this year. Twelve months ago, I was barely getting through a 5k. Now I’m training for the most physically and mentally demanding challenge of my life: the Ultra Mirage El Djerid — a 25km across the Sahara Desert on 27 September.

I have been on a journey of transformation after a tough year that saw me leave a relationship, sell my house in New Zealand, and jump on a plane with no job and no plan, and no idea what I was doing. I stopped in Bournemouth to visit family “for a few weeks” - and ended up unexpectedly landing the Hot Breakfast show on Hot Radio.

The weather was so good here that my morning walks along Bournemouth Beach slowly turned into morning runs. Exercise has been my secret weapon for clearing the headnoise - pushing myself to extremes became the only mental outlet that worked. Somewhere along the way, I found myself signing up for the Ultra Mirage 25km across the Sahara Desert.

This year has been about risk, challenge, trusting the process - and saying yes to things that scare me. Proving that reinvention at any stage of life is always possible.

I’m running to raise funds for Bournemouth Food Bank because no one in our community should face hunger or have to live with the insecurity of putting food on the table. This isn’t just about crossing the finish line - it’s about turning every kilometre into something bigger than myself, in honour of everyone who’s shown up for me this past year. If even one family can breathe a little easier, then every sweaty step through the desert will be worth it.

Thank you for your support and see you in the desert!

Holli xo