As a premier event on the Mid-Atlantic running calendar, the Army Ten-Miler – now in its 24th year — increased its runner cap to allow more athletes to take part in the annual event that is produced by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington.

The Lead Sponsors are the Association of the United States Army and KBR, an AUSA sustaining member.

The running field includes members of the armed forces as well as civilians, and features individual and team competitions.

In 2007, there were runners from the 50 states, the District if Columbia, Puerto Rico, Denmark, Brazil, Germany, South Korea, Romania and Canada, to name a few.

Registration
Registration will open Tuesday, April 1, and can be done online at http://www.armytenmiler.com.

Last year 99.4 percent of the runners registered online.

Notwithstanding the 26,000 cap, race officials predicted that the cap will be reached and registration will close by mid-May – or earlier. Last year the race closed in a record 41 days after registration opened.

“The Army’s race sells out every year,” Jim Vandak, the race director said. So, we encourage all runners to sign up early to ensure entry into America’s largest 10-mile race.”

Ten-Miler officials will again this year use a wave start to accommodate the large running field.

Also, military teams can now create a team (no less than four, no more than eight runners), pre-pay for up to eight team slots, then register team members by the pre-paid entry deadline – Aug. 8.

The pre-paid entry option for soldier teams was well received last year according to Vandak. This highly successful program will continue in 2008.

“Last year 91 percent of our runners said they would run again this year,” Vandak said.

Adding, “Our staff, military personnel and civilians from the Military District of Washington and other commands and agencies – together with over 1,300 dedicated volunteers – work hard to provide a world-class running event.

“We look forward to another great edition of this Army classic in 2008.”

2008 Army Ten-Miler
The 24th Army Ten-Miler takes place on Sunday, Oct. 5, the day before the opening of the Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Washington Convention Center.

The race – now an Army tradition – annually attracts runners from all over the world to run a course that starts and finishes at the Pentagon and passes national landmarks to include the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House and the Capitol.

Race weekend activities include a free and open to the public two-day Race EXPO, clinics and a press conference all held at the Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Va.

Race day features the Health Net Federal Services Youth Runs, the 94.7 Classic Rock Post Race Party – featuring bands, entertainment and a live broadcast – the HOOAH Tent Zone, and the Health Net Federal Services Youth Activity Zone, complete with Army racing displays, inflatable characters and the GEICO Gecko.

Sponsors and supporters

• AUSA
• KBR
• GEICO
• PriceWaterhouseCoopers
• Classic Rock 94.7
• TANDBERG
• Health Net Federal Services
• New Balance
• Webb Communications, Inc.