Mark your calendar – May 1 at 12:01 EST.In the last issue of our monthly newspaper, AUSA NEWS, and in a story that recently appeared on the AUSA website under "Headline News," was a very important article from the Army Ten-Miler staff at the U.S. Army Military District of Washington that I hope you didn’t miss.But, in case you did, it’s worth repeating here.This year, because of the rush to register for this great annual Army athletic event that reached its cap of 30,000 runners in 2012 and was closed in a matter of hours, race officials have again this year announced registration procedure that will allow all U.S. service members of all components – active, guard and reserve – to sign up for the run before it is opened up to all runners.The cap for 2013 has been raised to 35,000.There will be a priority registration, presented by Navy Federal Credit Union, for all U.S. service members and runners who have participated in at least seven Ten-Miler races.Approximately one-third of the total 35,000 race entries – the race’s new runner cap – will be reserved for the priority registration program.This is the important part: Priority registration for military members and runners who have run in seven or more Army Ten Milers opens May 1.U.S. service members must use a ".mil" address to register.This includes registration for individual runners and team registration.A searchable data base will be posted for seven-time-plus race participants to determine if they qualify for priority registration.The remaining race entries will be available to the general public, on a first-come-first-serve basis, beginning May 15 at 12:01 EST.A spokesperson for the Army Ten-Miler office said that since this is the Army’s race, they want to improve the registration opportunities for U.S service members and those "loyal Army Ten-Miler runners" who have been with the race for years.If those with a ".mil" address and who want to run this year miss the May 1 priority registration, general registration will open May 15 and the Army Ten-Miler transfer program will open June 1.Between June 1 and August 30, you will be able to buy or sell a registration. The seller is responsible for finding a buyer. The seller will initiate the transfer by going to transfer tab under registration and filling out the form.The buyer will receive an email and will have 72 hours to approve the purchase. The buyer will be charged a $25 administration fee.Race officials also confirmed that they will conduct a lottery again for U.S. service members. The U.S. military lottery will open Aug. 1 and service members must use a ".mil" address to register.So, mark your calendars and sign up for the 2013 edition of America’s best run and patriotic race.The 29th Annual Army Ten-Miler, produced by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, will be held at 8 a.m., Oct. 20, at the Pentagon, the day before the opening of the Association of the United States Army’s three-day Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.Again this year, the staging of the race will be in Pentagon North parking and will start on Route 110.The flat, fast scenic course will continue to pass national monuments and memorials as it winds through our nation’s Capital.For the runners’ convenience, race officials will implement a shuttle bus service between the Pentagon North and South Parking lots.The race’s two-day Health and Fitness EXPO, presented by Boeing, at the DC Armory will be held on Friday, Oct. 18, and Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.One 40,000 attendees are expected to visit the EXPO.The armory is located at 2001 East Capitol Street across from RFK Stadium in Washington, DC.Free parking will be available to runners and the public during EXPO hours.The Armory is also accessible from the Stadium/Armory Metro Station on the Blue and Orange lines.The Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Va., will again serve as the headquarters hotel for this year’s race.The hotel is conveniently located less than a mile from the Pentagon and is on the Metro Blue and Yellow Lines.The hotel will offer a special room rate for runners and host the popular all-you-can-eat GEICO Pasta Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 19.Since the rooms and Pasta Dinner always sell out, race officials encourage runners to make their reservations early.Complete race information is available at www.armytenmiler.com.The Lead Sponsors for the 2013 race are the Association of the United States Army and KBR, an AUSA sustaining member.AUSA is proud to not only be one of the race’s Lead Sponsor, but also to be the Founding Sponsor when the race began in 1984 with just over 1,600 runners.We have come a long way.Still Serving!