Lee, Swicegood win XTERRA ATX

In the men’s race Hans Ryham started the day with a blistering fast swim to put a two-minute gap on Lee (pictured above) and age group legend Kyle Grieser (pictured right) coming out of the water, but those two made up the time on the bike and it all came down to the run, where Lee (a 4-time XTERRA Trail Run National Champion in the 45-49 division) made his winning move.

Ryham finished second just 23-seconds back, and Grieser - a 13-time XTERRA South Central Region Champ - was third and the top overall amateur.

In the women’s race it was Swicegood from wire-to-wire with the fastest swim, bike, and run times. Gloriana Gonzalez from Costa Rica finished second and was the top amateur female, followed one-minute later by another Texas XTERRA great, Alissa Magrum, who is a drowning-prevention advocate for children with the non-profit, Colin’s Hope. Magrum was undefeated in the XTERRA South Central Series on her way to a 5th regional title in 2019.

Find full results here. All photos courtesy Tim Dunnahoo

The real story of ATX, however, belongs to XTERRA Warrior Jeanne Hoffman.

“I was 30 yards from transition and wrecked on some crappy asphalt,” the story begins. “Let up my concentration, came into the turn a little too hot, and there it was, a one-car pile-up with only me. So I hobbled into T2, stumbled around and Dion (one of the race organizers) was hoping I didn’t fall over. She looked at my knee and used the word “meaty.”

Determined to carry-on, Hoffman racked her bike and hobbled out of transition where she was met by the event medic.

“Probably spent 15 minutes doctoring me up and making sure I was “ok.” I knew in my mind somewhere based on the blood it was likely not good. I ran. Even went a little off course too.”

Only well after the event, and the communal post-race celebrations that the XTERRA Texas crew is famous for, did Hoffman make the trip to urgent care for a follow-up.

“Apparently it’s not good to have your kneecap and tendons exposed after ripping a gaping hole in your leg? Who knew?” she kidded. “Can’t stitch it closed, there’s no meat left. So went to the orthopedic on Monday and good news is I did not need skin graft/surgery (after I texted him the super gross photo Saturday, he was pretty certain I would need a graft but didn’t say it; and yeah, I have an orthopedic I can text injuries to :). Also sprained my wrist/hand/thumb but did not break anything.”

Hoffman also picked up some major road rash on her elbow with two puncture wounds, and road rash on her other leg as well.

“Oh it ain’t pretty,” she explains. “I feel so stupid, and I’m so mad at myself for letting off my concentration after 14 miles of technical trail. Then I realize I only lost by 3.5 minutes! In all seriousness, I’m lucky it wasn’t worse?”

Hoffman won’t make XTERRA Oak Mountain next week, but hopes to be back in time for XTERRA Cameron Park in Waco, TX on June 12. Humor and sarcasm, she says, have gotten her this far and so have the XTERRA Family.

“So many XTERRA friends checking on me and helping and supporting. My mental state was, uh, not so good but they pulled me through and kept me distracted. It’s just a flesh wound! I’ll be back, I’ve got a Maui spot to earn!”