Army Ten-Miler
Encyclopedia
The Army Ten-Miler is America's largest ten-mile race, held every October in Washington, DC and sponsored by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington.
The annual race weekend events also include a youth run, a youth activity fair, and a pre-race pasta dinner. The race draws a large number of civilian and military running teams. Last year's race was held on October 24, 2010.
certified and is mostly flat, fast and picturesque.
The race started in 1985 by fitness officials connected with the Army Headquarters staff in the Pentagon. In the early years, it was led by staff assigned to the Pentagon with the logistic support of the Military District of Washington. Subsequently, the program was reassigned to the Military District, where it is headed by a year-round, full-time professional staff.
, the October 2001 race was cancelled. Subsequent races have had extensive anti-terrorist security measures.
instead. The DC Metro Police Explosive Ordnance Unit investigated the package and, at 8:55AM, determined that it was harmless. Because the course was modified, the official race was declared a recreational run and was not scored. The transponder timing
mats were not relocated from the planned finish line to the end of the substitute route, which was estimated to be 11.2 miles long.
collapsed near the finish line, and subsequently died. The autopsy results revealed that he had coronary artery disease and ruled that his death was from natural causes.
came from behind to win the Open Female Competition. In addition, Alisa Harvey, from Manassas
won the Female Masters. For the men, Reginaldo Campos Jr. of Brazil
took first place in the Open Competition. He was one of four Brazilian Army
finishers in the top ten. There were a total of 18,789 finishers in the mild October weather.
, captured the men's race in 46:59 and Samia Akbar, from Herndon, Virginia
, won the women's race in 55:25. 21,256 runners finished the race, making it the largest ten mile run in the United States. On the same day, nine-hundred runners from fifteen nations participated in a "shadow" run held on Kandahar Airfield
, Afghanistan
.
, defending the men's title in 47:10 and Aziza Abate, from Ellicott City, Maryland
, winning the women's race in 55:54. During race week, deployed servicemembers and civilians participated in "shadow" runs at six bases in Afghanistan
, five bases in Iraq
, and one camp in Djibouti
, Africa
.
The annual race weekend events also include a youth run, a youth activity fair, and a pre-race pasta dinner. The race draws a large number of civilian and military running teams. Last year's race was held on October 24, 2010.
Race Course
The race course is USA Track and FieldUSA Track and Field
USA Track & Field is the United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking...
certified and is mostly flat, fast and picturesque.
- The race starts along Route 27Virginia State Route 27State Route 27 is a freeway in Arlington County, Virginia, in the United States. It was built during World War II to connect the Pentagon with U.S. Route 50 and northern Arlington to the west and Washington, DC, to the east. Its route parallels the southern boundaries of Arlington National...
adjacent to the PentagonThe PentagonThe Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
and proceeds north and across the Arlington Memorial BridgeArlington Memorial BridgeThe Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. crosses the Potomac River, connecting the Lincoln Memorial and Columbia Island. The northeastern end of the bridge marks the western edge of the National Mall...
.
- From there the course circles the Lincoln MemorialLincoln MemorialThe Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior...
and goes off to the left to Constitution AvenueConstitution AvenueIn Washington, D.C., Constitution Avenue is a major east-west street running just north of the United States Capitol in the city's Northwest and Northeast quadrants...
turning north on 19th Street and then northwest on Virginia AvenueVirginia AvenueVirginia Avenue is a street in the Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast quadrants of Washington, D.C. Like other state-named streets in Washington, it diagonally crosses the grid pattern formed by lettered and numbered streets....
.
- A the end of Virginia Avenue, the course turns south on Rock Creek ParkwayRock Creek and Potomac ParkwayThe Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, often known simply as the Rock Creek Parkway, is a parkway maintained by the National Park Service as part of Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C...
and passes underneath the Kennedy CenterJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center located on the Potomac River, adjacent to the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C...
.
- The parkway is followed to Independence Avenue near the John Ericsson MemorialJohn Ericsson National MemorialJohn Ericsson National Memorial, located near the National Mall at Ohio Drive and Independence Avenue, SW,in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to the man who revolutionized naval history with his invention of the screw propeller...
. The route continues past the National World War II MemorialNational World War II MemorialThe U.S. National World War II Memorial is a National Memorial dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during World War II...
and the Washington MonumentWashington MonumentThe Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
on the left, and the Jefferson MemorialJefferson MemorialThe Thomas Jefferson Memorial is a presidential memorial in Washington, D.C. that is dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, an American Founding Father and the third President of the United States....
on the right. The course continues along Independence Avenue going past the Air and Space MuseumNational Air and Space MuseumThe National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. It was established in 1976. Located in Washington, D.C., United States, it is a center for research into the history and science of aviation and...
to 3rd Street where it turns north, crossing the National MallNational MallThe National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
to Pennsylvania AvenuePennsylvania AvenuePennsylvania Avenue is a street in Washington, D.C. that joins the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches...
.
- The course goes east on Pennsylvania Ave. to 1st Street where the U.S. CapitolUnited States CapitolThe United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
is on the left.
- The course turns west at Independence Avenue and then turns south on 14th Street14th Street Northwest and Southwest (Washington, D.C.)Fourteenth Street is a street in Northwest and Southwest Washington, D.C., located 1¼ mi. west of the U.S. Capitol. It runs from the 14th Street Bridge north to Eastern Avenue....
where it takes the HOVHigh-occupancy vehicle laneIn transportation engineering and transportation planning, a high-occupancy vehicle lane is a lane reserved for vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers...
lanes of I-395 for the last two miles of the course to the South Pentagon Parking Lot.
History
2001 Race
Shortly after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack on the PentagonAmerican Airlines Flight 77
American Airlines Flight 77 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight, from Washington Dulles International Airport, in Dulles, Virginia to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California...
, the October 2001 race was cancelled. Subsequent races have had extensive anti-terrorist security measures.
2005 Race
DC Metropolitan Police identified a suspicious package under the HOV lanes of the 14th Street Bridge. Race officials decided to re-route runners at Mile Marker 7 (Independence and 14th Street area) to cross the Memorial BridgeArlington Memorial Bridge
The Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. crosses the Potomac River, connecting the Lincoln Memorial and Columbia Island. The northeastern end of the bridge marks the western edge of the National Mall...
instead. The DC Metro Police Explosive Ordnance Unit investigated the package and, at 8:55AM, determined that it was harmless. Because the course was modified, the official race was declared a recreational run and was not scored. The transponder timing
Transponder timing
Transponder timing is a technique for measuring performance in sport events. A transponder working on a radio-frequency identification basis is attached to the athlete and emits a unique code that is detected by radio receivers located at the strategic points in an event.Prior to the use of this...
mats were not relocated from the planned finish line to the end of the substitute route, which was estimated to be 11.2 miles long.
2007 Race
The race was held on Sunday, October 7, 2007 with 26,000 runners entered, and a record 17,000 finishing the 10 mile route. At the 8 a.m. start time, the temperature was 70 degrees F, and relative humidity of 94%, making conditions oppressive for running. Because of the heat, runners consumed more liquids than expected, and the aide stations ran out of water. Michael Banner, a 25-year old runner from Fairfax, VirginiaFairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
collapsed near the finish line, and subsequently died. The autopsy results revealed that he had coronary artery disease and ruled that his death was from natural causes.
2008 Race
The 2008 race was held on Sunday, October 5, 2008. Local women fared well, as Veena Reddy, from CentrevilleCentreville, Virginia
Centreville is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a Census Designated Place , the community population was 71,135 as of the 2010 census and is approximately west of Washington, DC.-Colonial Period:Beginning in the 1760s,...
came from behind to win the Open Female Competition. In addition, Alisa Harvey, from Manassas
Manassas, Virginia
The City of Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its population was 37,821 as of 2010. Manassas also surrounds the county seat for Prince William County but that county...
won the Female Masters. For the men, Reginaldo Campos Jr. of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
took first place in the Open Competition. He was one of four Brazilian Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
finishers in the top ten. There were a total of 18,789 finishers in the mild October weather.
2009 Race
The 2009 race was held on Sunday, October 4, 2009. There were course records set for both the men and women's race. Alene Reta, from EthiopiaEthiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, captured the men's race in 46:59 and Samia Akbar, from Herndon, Virginia
Herndon, Virginia
Herndon is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area of the United States. The population was 21,655 at the 2000 census, which makes it the largest of three towns in the county.-History:...
, won the women's race in 55:25. 21,256 runners finished the race, making it the largest ten mile run in the United States. On the same day, nine-hundred runners from fifteen nations participated in a "shadow" run held on Kandahar Airfield
Kandahar Airfield
Kandahar International Airport is located 10 miles south-east of Kandahar City in Afghanistan. The airport was built by the United States in the 1960s, under the United States Agency for International Development program. It may have been intended to be used as a possible U.S...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
2010 Race
The 2010 race was held on Sunday, October 24, 2010. The race set Army Ten Miler registration records, with 30,000 runner slots being sold in only 35 hours. 21,636 runners finished the race, with Alene Reta, from EthiopiaEthiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, defending the men's title in 47:10 and Aziza Abate, from Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The population was 65,834 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Howard County...
, winning the women's race in 55:54. During race week, deployed servicemembers and civilians participated in "shadow" runs at six bases in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, five bases in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, and one camp in Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Champions
| Year | Field | Male | Female | Master Male | Master Female |
| 1995 | 7,110 | Ronnie Harris, 48:59 | Susan Molloy, 56:20 | Chuck Moeser, 53:29 | Patricia Donohue, 1:06:20 |
| 1996 | 7,579 | Michael Berstein, 47:59 | Chris Udovich, 58:35 | David Wannewurf, 52:24 | Linda Wack, 1:03:16 |
| 1997 | 9,404 | Dan Browne, 47:44 | Chris Udovich, 56:58 | Tom Borschel, 52:44 | Cathy Ventura-Merkel, 1:03:33 |
| 1998 | 11,472 | Dan Browne, 48:52 | Alisa Harvey, 58:56 | Chuck Moeser, 53:14 | Patti Shull, 1:00:10 |
| 1999 | 11,453 | Chris Graff, 48:21 | Alisa Harvey, 57:47 | Sammy Ngatia, 50:46 | Patti Shull, 1:03:11 |
| 2000 | 11,935 | Sammy Ngatia, 48:50 | Naoko Ishibe, 56:40 | Sammy Ngatia, 48:50 (Event Record) | Patricia Clifford, 1:05:17 |
| 2002 | 11,904 | Ryan Kirkpatrick, 48:35 | Casey Smith, 58:21 | Sammy Ngatia, 51:17 | Martha Merz, 59:49 |
| 2003 | 13,198 | John Henwood, 48:49 | Alisa Harvey, 59:29 | John Colpeck, 53:14 | Martha Merz, 1:00:36 |
| 2004 | 13,071 | Dan Browne 47:32 | Casey Smith 57:32 | Sammy Ngatia, 52:47 | Martha Merz, 1:00:57 |
| 2006 | 15,589 | Jared Nyamboki, 48:24 | Alisa Harvey, 59:00 | Marty Muchow, 53:25 | Alisa Harvey, 59:00 |
| 2007 | 17,641 | Jose Ferreira, 49:21 | Firaya Zhdanova, 58:31 | Mike Scannell, 54:31 | Firaya Zhdanova, 58:31 (Event Record) |
| 2008 | 18,789 | Reginaldo Campos Jr., 48:59 | Veena Reddy, 58:08 | Mike Scannell, 53:01 | Alisa Harvey, 1:00:57 |
| 2009 | 21,256 | Alene Reta, 46:59 (Event Record) | Samia Akbar, 55:25 (Event Record) | Sergey Kaledin, 52:34 | Elena Kaledina, 1:00:35 |
| 2010 | 21,636 | Alene Reta, 47:10 | Aziza Abate, 55:54 |