It all began with running. I ran my first marathon, Penn Relays, in college and finished in the top three. I loved to train more than compete; and, I enjoyed the travel associated with elite running. I was challenged balancing my commitment to education and work with competitive running. And, it wasn’t a surprise that my marathon results plateaued. So, I stepped up my goals — ultra running, 50 mile races– fewer women competitors.
Through graduate school and the beginning of my career, sponsors and a decent job in Chicago paid for my local races and ultra training of 100-mile weeks. 1984 featuring the first Olympic Women’s Marathon, so there wasn’t a great deal of competition or money in the sport. The clock was ticking, and my ex-college boyfriend knew how much I wanted to train in LA. He found a startup, secured my interview, and I moved to LA within a month – job and running were my focus!
From the moment I stepped off the plane, I knew I found home – running without no snow days and sleet, cycling to work, driving with my top down, sunny days, and working in shorts not a suit! I even found a great guy .. husband material.. and yes, we have been married 32 years!
Unfortunately, sun and stress resulted in my diagnosis of lupus, an autoimmune disease. I fought hard and continued to compete. The fatigue, fevers, and joint pain made it difficult. And, the recommended treatment was bed rest. I chose a different lifestyle – run, eat healthy, sleep a lot. And, I beat the odds.. I competed in another 50 miler – this time the focus was to raise money for lupus awareness. I launched the Bay Area Lupus Foundation’s inaugural walk / run for lupus.
As I have aged, my lupus flares were milder. So I began competing and ran a half marathon with the goal of winning it. I had the lead at 3 miles and at 6 miles my coach caught up with me — I heard my hamstring pop. I ended up tearing my hamstring off my sit bone and was told by some surgeons I wouldn’t run again. Dr. Gerhardt fixed me that side and within a year I was back to running and now focused on how to use my running for doing good.
I launched Conquer Our Run, fun runs, to raise awareness about lupus and other charities. I had the good fortune to run in most of the local races. And, then, I popped the other hamstring. I knew the drill – the surgery, rehab, and how to return to running. I conquered it, again with Dr. Gerhardt’s magic!
And, a year later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I continued the running series, shared my story and encouraged others to fight cancer and find their passion.. mine is running!
About Denise Winner
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have been married for 32 years to a New Yorker who I met at work when I moved here 34 years ago. We have a 25 year old son who lives in New York and works in private equity. He hopes and I pray that he returns to LA soon… so he can raise a family in the south bay. We have a dog Kona, an Aussie Shepherd Mix. We adopted her during Covid; she’s a great runner and loves to do tricks, especially for a belly rub! I grew up in Chicago and my 92-year-old mother lives in the city, close to my sister. I visit regularly and carve out hours for competitive Rummikub and badgering.. I make her walk and eat healthily.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have over three decades of experience in financial services and consulting with focus on business analysis and finTech. My experience and expertise in analytics, accounting, strategic business analysis, AI and software development provided me the opportunity to work with over 30 companies from start-up to Fortune 500 companies in industries from fixed income trading to cold storage analytics. I love the challenge of learning a new industry, modeling a new problem, or developing a strategy and or solution and working with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Who knows what the future brings, make the best of the each moment and always be your best.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Running along the strand… living in a one story ranch house somewhere in the South Bay…babysitting our grandkids and playing with our dogs.
Denise Winner & Our Community
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Rice MB, Nandos
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
My husband and I moved to Manhattan Beach in 1996. And, in 2000, I launched Winner Squared, a consulting and finTech firm. In 2001, my husband joined me in the venture. Typically, I worked remotely and virtually. He worked at client’s on Rosecrans and couldn’t complain about his commute! I enjoyed the proximity and flexibility .. especially when juggling family, health, career, philanthropy, and running.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I put together a team to run the Ragnar Relay, a 200 mile relay from LA to San Diego. 6-12 runners could split the miles, so I recruited 9-10 hoping for 7-8 show up. Family commitments, work, injury resulted in 6 including Patrick Sweeney, someone who could run shoeless, in a kilt, and never got hurt! Patrick is an elite ultramarathoner, 100 mile trail runner, and most famous for his transcontinental from LA to Boston including the Boston Marathon, 3200 miles to promote the 100 Mile Club, a program designed for children to prevent inactivity, promote healthy life-long habits, and make running fun. Patrick has many running adventures including competing as an elite runner in Chicago marathon and running for the next 22 days to New York to run the NY Marathon. Patrick loves to run and lives to run. His ultra success is living a life he enjoys!
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Beckers Bakery brings back fond mother son memories. My son had a real sweet tooth and loved the surfboard cookies. On Wednesday, early dismissal, we detoured to Beckers to grab a blue or yellow surfboard cookie and coffee for me. We’d sit at a little outside table and and laugh, chat and sometimes get lucky and share another fabulous sunset!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Manhattan Beach 10k is a community event that brings people together of all ages and abilities. The race is challenging, scenic and celebrates the community spirit of Manhattan Beach with local vendors, music and festivities. Manhattan Beach kicks off holiday season with its annual open house. The streets of downtown are closed off to traffic and the town is transformed into a winter wonderland. My son and I enjoyed the lights, music, reindeer, arts and crafts, and endless sweets. As my son grew older, too busy, and too cool, the tradition faded and instead the outing became a great time to reconnect with old friends, shop, dine, enjoy good cheer!
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Jim Fixx graduated from my alma mater, Wharton, UPenn and started running in his 30s. He was an advocate of regular exercise and made marathoning popular. Post his MBA, he wrote “The Complete Book of Running” – a must read for all runners. I would love to share a pizza with him at Love and Salt and hear about how he transformed from an MBA to inspirational speaker and world renowned runner!
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Ted Lasso, The Americans, Mrs. Maisel Movies: LALA Land, Beautiful Mind
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I moo better than most cows and love cows.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My husband, my son, my dog – FAMILY!
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My son inspired me to be the best I could be .. lead by example by working hard and committing to ethical and moral behavior. He also inspired me to find joy in simple things, be present and appreciate the time together.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Unconditional Love / “There is no place like home” / Family Dinners
