Denise's Story
Denise has an inner drive “To Be The Fastest!”
She describes the moment when the concept of being the first woman to set a Land Speed Record on a bicycle was presented as an epiphany similar to the explosiveness of “a match being thrown on gasoline.” There was no looking back. After accomplishing her goal in 2016, that same drive pushed her to raise the bar on the goal to the next level in 2018 … to break the overall (men’s) record of 167mph!
Denise raced bicycles as a teenage under the coaching of both Coach Doreen Williams (Smith), and Coach John Howard. Denise accumulated 13 national championship & 2 World Championship podiums before “retiring” her bicycle racing days to enter the family security business, Rancho Santa Fe Security Systems Inc. and raise a family. Twenty three years later, she came out of “retirement” and started racing after meeting back up with her coach, John Howard, who convinced Denise to get back on the bike to ride a Challenged Athletes Foundation charity ride.
Coach John Howard, who is a 3-time Olympian and member of the US Cycling Hall of Fame, found that spark still in Denise who was now in her 40’s that she had when she was a teenager. John approached Denise about the idea of being the FIRST WOMAN ever to set a record that he had set himself over 30 years ago at 152.2 mph. So with a goal of being the FIRST WOMAN ever, spanning three separate centuries, Denise had a huge goal to focus on.
Racing bicycles and cars, Denise is no stranger to speed and adrenaline. Combining her competitive drive with her natural athletic abilities, this land speed record is the perfect goal for Denise to strive to accomplish. Denise has also finished on the podium in her other sport love- motor racing. She drives go-karts, rides off-road motorcycles and has even had a run on the Bonneville Salt Flats in her modified Mini Cooper.
Denise’s personal journey provides an inspiration to other women (and men) to follow their dreams no matter what life path they have traveled. In 2016 Denise may have set the first women’s record of 147mph, but 2017 proved to be quite and exciting year as well. She had a terrible bicycle training crash where she broke her shoulder blade and a rib, she ran the Great Wall of China Marathon, was shot in the leg at a firearms competition. Nothing seems to slow Denise down; especially when she has a goal in her sights … breaking the overall paced land speed record in September 2018 was certainly that goal!
Denise is a mother of three adult sons and retired CEO and second generation in the family security business. Finding a balance between responsible adult life as a mother, career woman, keynote speaker and training for such a huge goal has had its challenges, but has also been the most rewarding.