2024 Army Ten Miler
The Army Ten Miler is the second-largest 10-miler in the United States. This would be my 11th time running the race, not including 2005, when the course was re-rerouted due to a suspicious package.
Typically, I clear a path personally and professionally to lock into my training cycle and fight aggressively to keep anything from impacting my training. But, during Week 1 (late July), I was on vacation for my high school reunion in San Diego, California.
Week 2 ended with me traveling to Syracuse, New York, to visit my boyfriend’s family. I did my first marathon-pace run of the training cycle on the Erie Canalway Trail. I was home during Week 3, but it was so hot that my long run was on the treadmill. For Week 4, I went camping in Shenandoah National Park. So, it wasn’t until Week 5 (late August) that I started training consistently outdoors on the roads.
September was a solid month of training, and I consistently averaged 60 miles a week of running. During Week 10, my entry to the 2025 Boston Marathon was accepted based on my time from the 2024 Ottawa Marathon!
During Week 11, I ran a long run on Saturday and then spent the weekend with my boyfriend and our friends, who have a vacation spot in Massanutten, Virginia. I did my long run in Harrisonburg through James Madison University.
In the week leading up to the race, Week 12, I only ran 50 miles and no single run over 9 miles. I had done a 21-mile long run the Saturday before.
The Army 10 Miler would kick off Week 13 and serve as the first test of my fitness.
Cost
The cost was $110.00.
Goals
Achievable
Sub-1:20:00 (8:00 pace). Based on recent training, I should aim for an 8:00 pace.
Stretch
Sub-1:19:00 (7:54 pace). I finished the 2024 PNC Parkway Classic (10-miler) just under this time, but I don’t think I’m in the same shape that I was this spring.
Strategy
My goal was to go out at 8:00 pace from the start, and I hoped I could hang on.
Course
The race started at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and crossed the Key Bridge into the District of Columbia. The route connected with Independence Avenue from Georgetown and runs along the National Mall for an out-and-back around the Department of Transportation building. Then, it returned to Virginia via the slightly uphill 14th Street Bridge. After a brief excursion through Crystal City, the race finished at the Pentagon.
There were three aid stations with water and Gatorade at the 2.25, 4.25, 6.6, and 8.75 mile marks. The crowd support was mainly along the Mall and at the finish line.
Playlist
I composed 1 hour and 23 minutes of music.
Pre-race
Bib Pick-up
On Saturday, late morning, after my easy six-miler, my boyfriend and I went to the race expo at the D.C. Armory. I picked up my bib quickly but noticed a line for runners without a corral. We spent about a half hour at the expo. I grabbed some free water bottles but only bought some shoe charms.
We went to brunch in the Eastern Market neighborhood and then spent a quiet evening at home.
Race Day
I woke up at 5:30 a.m. after about six and a half hours of sleep. I had coffee and peanut butter toast.
I wore a Saucony Stopwatch Singlet, Oiselle Roga Shorts, and Nike Air ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 3.
I left the house at 7:00 a.m. for a warm-up run to the Pentagon. It was about 3 miles.
When I arrived, it was pretty unorganized. I eventually reached the security checkpoint and went to the corral. I stopped for a Black Hawk flyover and the National Anthem.
As I was getting ready, a runner asked me how to work his Aftershokz.
The cannon went off for the first wave, and we walked up. After a few announcements for the green wave, we were off!
Weather
The temperature was about 60 degrees at the start, and there was hardly a cloud in the sky—close to perfect!
The Race
Miles 0-3 (Pentagon, Key Bridge, Whitehurst Freeway)
From the Pentagon, the course went north on Route 110 towards Rosslyn. The course was packed with walkers, and I did a fair amount of weaving during the first half of the miles. Towards the end of the first mile, near Arlington National Cemetery, I’d crossed the course and ran on the shoulder on the right side of the road. My first split was over 8:00 pace, but I figured it was slow due to all the weaving.
The road narrowed under Interstate 66 and then rose as it approached the on-ramp for the Key Bridge and “Intersection of Doom.” At the Mile 2 marker, my pace was still over 8:00, and I started to worry a bit. There were crowds along the route, and it lifted my spirits.
The course turned right onto the Key Bridge. I decided to push the pace but was a bit pinned in. Before heading onto the Whitehurst Freeway, I passed Mile 3 and clicked off an 8:08 split. I resigned myself that a 1:20 finish probably wasn’t in the cards.
Splits: 8:09, 8:06, 8:08.
Miles 3-7 (Tidal Basin, National Mall)
A crowd was on the off-ramp from the Whitehurst Freeway onto the Potomac River Freeway. After some weaving, I found an area where I could run alone. At Mile 4, I logged my fastest split – 7:56.
I dodged runners at the aid station on Independence Avenue by the Lincoln Memorial. My split at Mile 5 was 8:09. I marveled at how consistent my splits were.
A few spectators on Independence Avenue started at the Washington Monument, but I tuned them out. The road flattened out after 14th Street Bridge, and I lengthened my stride a bit. I pushed as we rounded the Department of Transportation building and felt good when I saw another 8:09 split at the Mile 6 marker!
The course turned left from Independence Avenue. A female runner zoomed past me and said, “Hello.” I recognized her as someone I see on my training runs and said “Hi” back. An aid station was on the left, but I veered to the right to avoid it. The District Running Collective was cheering on the right, and they were inspiring. After the jubilation, I settled in for the most challenging part of the course.
Splits: 7:56, 8:09, 8:09, 8:08.
Miles 7 to 10 (14th Street Bridge, Crystal City, the Pentagon)
We weren’t on the bridge for long when we passed the Mile 7 marker. I saw the Mile 8 marker at the top of the uphill.
As I came off the 14th Street Bridge, I couldn’t stride out very much—the climb had taken the pep out of my legs. I was exhausted but felt relief. I rounded the corner and passed the water stop. I looked for my boyfriend but didn’t see him. Next, I turned left in Crystal City towards Long Bridge Park. I felt a second wind when I saw the Mile 9 marker. I also saw my boyfriend on the median and ran over to him!
I passed the corner where I would cheer for the Marine Corps Marathon runners in a few weeks. Then, we were back on Route 110. I tried to pick up the pace but didn’t feel like sprinting for seconds.
Splits: 8:28, 8:37, 8:05.
Post-race
Result
| Time: 1:21:54 | Pace: 8:12 | Log Details |
Finish
My time was just 2:31 slower than the 2024 PNC Classic – the ten-miler I ran in the spring, which suggests I might be in worse shape than I was for the 2024 Ottawa Marathon.
I was the 2,730th out of 19,471 (top 14%) and the 468th woman out of 8,050 (top 6%). I was also 16th in my age group out of 713 (top 3%).
Sam Chelanga won in 48:40 (4:52 pace) on the elite side. For the women, Elizabeth Sullivan finished in 56:58 (5:42 pace).
I crossed the finish line and felt a twinge of disappointment. I grabbed a bottle of water from a volunteer and walked through the chute with other finishers.
At first, I declined a medal because it didn’t feel like an accomplishment. But then, my mood lifted, and I accepted this symbol for all my work. I ate a chewy granola bar and texted my boyfriend about meeting up back home.
I jogged back home but walked on the uphills, so it was only 2 miles at 10:45 pace.
Later that afternoon, we went for brunch, and I stuffed my belly with a salmon salad. Then, I took a solid two-hour nap.
Epilogue
Overall, it’s a well-organized and enjoyable race with a fantastic course. And it’s a great way to support the military community. My only complaint is that the race organizers don’t marshall the start corrals.
I didn’t think I ran very well. Still, if the McMillan Calculator is correct, I should be able to run something like sub-3:49 (8:45 pace) at the 2024 Philadelphia Marathon in November – a minute under my new Boston Marathon Qualifying Time for 2026, which is 3:50 (8:47 pace).
Next Race
2024 Marine Corps 10K on Sunday, October 27th.
Abridged Version
Overall, it’s a well-organized and enjoyable race with a fantastic course.
Going into the race, I was apprehensive about my fitness because I skipped some threshold runs. But I guessed I was roughly in the same shape as last year.
I weaved through runners in the early mile, but once I was downtown, I found a good rhythm and clicked off consistent 8:00 splits. I struggled on the 14th Street Bridge and ran 8:20-8:30 splits during miles 8 and 9, but once I crossed back into Virginia, I returned to form.
My time was 1:21:54 (8:12 pace). Next, I’m traveling to Madrid, Spain, for work. When I return, I’ll train for a week before running the 2024 Marine Corps 10K.