Riding in the moment
During her 31-year tenure as the women’s golf coach at Penn State University, Denise St. Pierre often stressed the importance of staying in the moment to her team: “In golf we always say ‘one hole at a time or one shot at a time.’”
As Denise embarks on an East Coast Greenway biking adventure from Miami to Massachusetts that same mentality serves her well in retirement. “You have to look at it as ‘I have to ride 50 miles today’ — one thing at a time,” she added. “When I’m in Miami, I’m in Miami. I’m not thinking about, oh my God, I have a long way to go.”
Denise and her younger sister, Barb, will depart Miami on April 10, biking 50-60 miles daily with the aim of reaching Provincetown, Massachusetts, on May 29. Family members, including Denise’s wife, Julie Lammel, and another St Pierre sister, Christine Siena, will drive their electric Volkswagen bus support vehicle throughout the journey.
A Greenway Dream
Denise’s dream of riding the East Coast took root when she read a magazine article about the Greenway while on a trip with her Penn State team. However, the demands of a Division I collegiate athletics schedule meant a ride that epic would have to wait until retirement.
“I’ve been a recreational cyclist my entire life, so it caught my eye,” she said. “I was very intrigued and thought ‘this is the coolest thing,’ and someday I’m gonna ride that.”
Two years into retirement, Denise is making that ride a reality. Driven by a lifelong passion for environmental stewardship, she has added an important mission: getting people talking about climate, the East Coast Greenway and Third Act, a group mobilizing people over the age of 60 to take bold action on climate and democracy.
Denise has dubbed her effort, Cycle Hope: Pedaling Toward a Brighter Future, and has a goal of raising $50,000 to benefit the East Coast Greenway Alliance and Third Act, as well as to support the trip.
Learn more about supporting Cycle Hope here.
Throughout the trip, Denise is organizing “Cycle Stops,” often at local craft breweries, where she plans to connect with communities along the Greenway. She aims to “inspire civic engagement that empowers collective action,” while also raising awareness and support for the Greenway and Third Act. Cycle Hope T-shirts and pint glasses will be available for those who donate to the effort.
Spreading Awareness
But before taking her first pedal stroke in Miami, Denise is already building awareness about the Greenway and the Alliance’s mission to complete it. And she’s well aware of the importance of the Greenway for local communities and long-distance travelers alike.
“There are people that use the Greenway to commute to work, there are people that use it to get to school, there are people that use it for their own exercise and recreation,” she said. “In the Northeast you can get from one city to the next without getting on a road. Maybe it makes you ride your bike instead of getting in your car.”
With Denise’s urging, her teammates with Happy Valley Women’s Cycling are “excited about getting out there and using the Greenway themselves.”
Lifelong Fitness
Throughout the harsh Pennsylvania winter, Denise logged many miles on her trainer in preparation for the ride. She added one long ride per week of 2.5-3 hours, while also emphasizing strength training and mobility. She cross-trains by swimming five days per week and adds cross-country and downhill skiing during the winter.
“I’ve been active my whole life, so I’m probably not a typical 64-year-old, “ Denise said. “But, you have to be careful about pushing too hard so that you injure yourself and you’re out of the game, right?”
Once all the preparation and planning is behind her, Denise is most excited to share the trail ahead with her younger sister, Barb.
“I’m the fourth of five girls, and it’ll be fun to just spend more committed time with her,“ Denise adds. “We’re actually going to see our sisters as we ride because two of them live in Cocoa Beach and one of them lives in Virginia, so we’re making those part of our stops.”
As Denise and Barb head north, the miles will add up, but their focus will stay on the present day. They are not just achieving a personal goal, but encouraging others to connect, reflect and help shape a better future for the East Coast and beyond.
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