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MDW hosts 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler

By Capt. Tim HamptonNovember 13, 2023

Dozens of runners are lined up at a starting line underneath a banner that reads "Start Army Ten-Miler Washington, D.C." Maybe are touching their watches.
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Almost 26,000 runners from around the world take part in the 39th annual Army Ten-Miler in Arlington, Va., Oct. 8, 2023. The race is the Army's premier running event, beginning and ending at the Pentagon while giving participants a view of some of the Nation's most iconic monuments. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Ethan Scofield) VIEW ORIGINAL
Dozens of runners are running down a highway near the Pentagon with green road signs above them which indicate directions to various local roads.
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Military, civilians, wheelchair athletes and wounded warrior athletes from around the world, participate in the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by PFC Brandon L. Perry) (Photo Credit: Pfc. Brandon Perry) VIEW ORIGINAL
Dozens of runners are racing away from the starting line of the Army Ten-Miler race. There are multicolored balloons forming a tall arch over the starting line.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Almost 26,000 runners from around the world take part in the 39th annual Army Ten-Miler in Arlington, Va., Oct. 8, 2023. The race is the Army's premier running event, beginning and ending at the Pentagon while giving participants a view of some of the Nation's most iconic monuments. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ethan Scofield) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Ethan Scofield) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Army Ten-Miler, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, successfully conducted its 39th annual race October 8 in Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The Army Ten-Miler (ATM), the third largest 10-mile race in the world, generally attracts an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 military and civilian runners and spectators from around the globe this year. This year, in a process of post-pandemic recovery, 26,000 in-person and 1,900 virtual runners registered to run the race. The racecourse began and ended at the Pentagon and ran through the Nation’s Capital passing national treasures such as the Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Washington Monument.

MDW executes the ATM Expo and Race in Virginia and Washington, D.C. to support the Army’s outreach mission, build morale, and promote physical fitness.

According to ATM staff, the Army Ten-Miler is the largest outreach event for the Army. The goal is to bring the people and its Army into one space because of the limited connection or exposure they have to the Army.

Tyrone Murphy runs during the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by Henry Villarama)
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Tyrone Murphy runs during the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by Henry Villarama) (Photo Credit: Henry Villarama) VIEW ORIGINAL
Military and civilian runners from around the world participate in the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by Henry Villarama)
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Military and civilian runners from around the world participate in the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by Henry Villarama) (Photo Credit: Henry Villarama) VIEW ORIGINAL
A man wearing black athletic clothes and is carrying the U.S. flag while running in the race with dozens of other runners around him.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Military and civilian runners from around the world participate in the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by Henry Villarama) (Photo Credit: Henry Villarama) VIEW ORIGINAL

The race was preceded by a two-day Race Expo on October 6-7, at the District of Columbia (D.C.) Armory. There was a buffet pasta dinner traditionally attended by the Sergeants Major of the Army, Reserve, and Guard with over 900 participants on October 7th at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.

The pasta dinner is mostly frequented by military units and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) teams, according to ATM staff. Over 150 ROTC programs and three service academies participated. James Madison University won the award for the highest participation in the ROTC Program category. United States Military Academy (USMA) West Point won the award for the highest participation in the US Service Academy category.

Three people are parachuting with bright orange smoke trailing behind them. their parachutes are black and gold colored, and the sky is light blue.
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers with the Golden Knights U.S. Army Parachute Team, perform before the start of the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Brandon Perry) (Photo Credit: Pfc. Brandon Perry) VIEW ORIGINAL
Four helicopters are flying above trees and a parking lot near the Pentagon with the Washington Monument in the background against a light blue, cloudless sky.
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion conduct a flyover during the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Ten-Miler race, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds spirit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Spenscer Williams) (Photo Credit: Spc. Spenscer Williams) VIEW ORIGINAL
Two men dressed in green camouflage pants and hats and bright green Army Ten-Miler shirts are firing a cannon. The cannon burst is bright orange and white.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), fire cannons to mark the start of the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Deonte Rowell) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Deonte Rowell) VIEW ORIGINAL

The race was truly an exercise in interagency planning and cooperation, as multiple law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services partnered to ensure the race was safe. Those allied partners included DC Metro Police; Arlington County Police Department; the Pentagon Force Protection Agency ad Pentagon Police Department; Virginia State Police; United States Park Police; Metro Transit Police Department; Arlington County Fire/EMS; DC Fire/EMS; as well as various Department of Defense military police units. The goal was to emphasize deterrence and prevention of any unforeseen activity that could cause harm, according to race officials. This included security for the event to protect participants, ensuring medical care was available, and rapid response.

Race day began with a parachute jump demonstration from the Army’s Golden Knights. It ended with winners Michael Jordan with a time of 49 minutes and 23 seconds in the male division, and Elvin Kibet with a time of 54 minutes and 51 seconds in the female division. Over 7,000 active-duty military members participated in the race. A total of 487 teams participated, 262 of the 487 teams are active-duty military, National Guard, and reserve teams and 83 are ROTC and U.S. Service Academy teams.

A woman crosses the finish line of the Army Ten-Miler wearing a shirt with the letter AER. Two men in green camouflage uniforms hold the finish line tape that the runner is going through.
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Elvin Kibet (center) crosses the finish line to become the women's winner of the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. Almost 26,000 runners from around the world take part in the race, which is the Army's premier running event, beginning and ending at the Pentagon while giving participants a view of some of the Nation's most iconic monuments. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob Lang) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Jacob Lang) VIEW ORIGINAL
A man dressed in a black athletic outfit is holding a bronze trophy above his head which depicts an eagle. Behind him are two men in athletic outfits holding gold trophies that look resemble urns.
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Michael Jordan is presented with the award for winning the Men's 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by PFC Brandon L. Perry) (Photo Credit: Pfc. Brandon Perry) VIEW ORIGINAL
Two men in black athletic outfits are congratulating another man who is in a wheelchair and holding a trophy.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael R. Weimer (left) and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George (right) presents an award to a Wounded Warrior participant (center) in the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, hosted by U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 8, 2023. The Army Ten-Miler, the third largest 10-mile road race in the world, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Ethan Scofield) VIEW ORIGINAL

The active-duty men and women team winners were Fort Carson with times of three hours and twenty-two minutes, and four hours and nine minutes, respectively. The active-duty mixed team winner was Phantom Warrior with three hours and forty-five minutes. A total of 1,100 ROTC and U.S. Service Academy cadets participated in the 39th ATM. The military academy and ROTC team winner was Army West Point Gold with a time of three hours and fifty-one minutes. The Virtual ATM Race will conclude on December 31, 2023, with 1,900 registered to run.

Next year the Army Ten-Miler is partnering with its sister organizations, the Marine Corps Marathon, Air Force Marathon, Coast Guard Marathon, Space Force Ten-Miler, to introduce a new challenge called the Armed Forces Series Challenge, according to ATM staff. If a runner completes all five races in three years, they get the Armed Forces Series Medal. When runners register this year, they’ll be able to opt-in to that Series Challenge as well.

All race proceeds benefit U.S. Army Soldiers and Families through U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs.

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