Doug and Denetta Scott’s Golden State Challenge Story
If you ask Doug and Denetta Scott how all of this started, they will both laugh before pointing at each other. The Rancho Santa Margarita siblings are in their second year of the Golden State Challenge, they have dozens of finish lines behind them, and they are already planning their 2026 race calendar. But the very first spark came from a simple dare.
Doug and Denetta started running together in 2014 after Doug dared his sister to join him in a fun run. She beat him, and the rivalry turned into a shared passion that now includes dozens of races and back-to-back years in the Golden State Challenge. The siblings use race weekends to reconnect, explore new places, and celebrate every finish line as a team. Read how a simple dare became a lifelong running story in this month’s featured GSC athletes ➡️
How It Began for Denetta
In 2014, Doug told his sister she could not handle a fun run called The Inflatable Run. She disagreed. She signed up. And to Doug’s surprise, she beat him.
“That was it for me,” she says. “I thought, I’ll do it and see how I do. And I ended up loving it.”
She started jumping into 5Ks whenever she could. By 2019 she was adding 10Ks, and in 2022 she decided to test herself again by running the Laguna Hills Half Marathon. “I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could do more,” she says.
Today her medals fill a credenza in her law office, where she works as an attorney in lemon law defense. They are an instant conversation starter. “People walk in and say, ‘All of those are yours?’ And I say yes, this is the current year. It is a fun way to encourage others to run too.”
Running, she says, keeps her sane. It balances out the intensity of her work.
Doug’s Story
Doug’s path began with curiosity. His mates at the gym were talking about their races, their gym routines, and their times. He thought he might give it a try.
“My first 5K was one of those color runs, and I was miserable,” he says. “I learned fast that 5Ks are not as easy as they look.”
He signed up for The Inflatable Run next and invited his sister to come along. Even though he ran out of steam and Denetta beat him, he kept going. More 5Ks followed, then 10Ks. Eventually he looked around at the running friends in his life and asked himself, “Could I go higher?”
His first half marathon was in 2019 in Irvine. It was raining. It was hard. And he loved it. “Once I finished, it was so challenging that it became addictive. I wanted more.”
He now has 60-70 half marathons under his belt. He works as the head of IT for an occupational medicine company, and like his sister, he appreciates running as a stress reliever. It allows him to unplug and reset.
Why They Run Together
Doug and Denetta do not typically run side by side during races, but running is still something they deeply share. Their schedules are demanding, so the Golden State Challenge races become time for them to reconnect.
“We both work a lot,” Doug says. “Running gives us the chance to relax, unwind, and challenge ourselves at the same time. We don’t run together during the race, but we celebrate together. It is something we can bond over. And I love cheering her on.”
For Denetta, it is the combination of time spent together and time spent exploring new places. “We have the whole race weekend,” she says. “We get to hang out, go out to eat, travel to beautiful places, and just be siblings again.”
They race all year long, averaging one to two events per month. They rest in December, then start again in January. It has become their shared rhythm.
The Golden State Challenge Effect
Their first year in the Golden State Challenge came somewhat accidentally. They were already doing Surf City. They added Napa to Sonoma because it doubled as a vacation. Doug kept getting the qualification emails. Soon they were in.
Now they are hooked.
“The feeling when you finish a GSC race is incredible,” Doug says. “The atmosphere, the encouragement, the joy. You meet people who are doing the same thing, and you become part of the Golden State Challenge family. I love signing my name on the banner and cheering others on. And getting the bear for doing six races is the best thing you can ever get.”
“Last year we both got the bear,” Denetta adds. “That was a big moment.”
They love the expo VIP area, the travel, the challenge, and the chance to celebrate with runners they see throughout the season. They also love mixing in virtual races when needed.
They completed six Golden State Challenge races in 2024 and are very close to doing the six again in 2025. And brother and sister are already committed to running the series again next year, with the new Santa Cruz race added to their lineup.
A Sibling Story Still Growing
What began as a dare has grown into a lifestyle and a tradition. Doug and Denetta run to stay healthy, to stay grounded, and to stay connected to each other.
They run because it challenges them.
They run because it brings them joy.
And they run because somewhere along the way, the miles became a part of who they are.
Their medals tell the story. Their smiles at the finish line tell the rest.
