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Belvoir Eagle May 17, 2018
www.belvoireagleonline.com
File photos by Rick Musselman
Robert Denmark crosses the finish line of the 2017 Army Ten-Miler qualifier run at Mount Vernon. This year’s qualifier is June 28, starting at 5:30 a.m. at the Mount Vernon Trail.
Julie Debruler approaches the finish line of the 2017 Army Ten-Miler qualifier run at Mount Vernon. This year’s qualifier is June 28, starting at 5:30 a.m. at the Mount Vernon Trail.
Belvoir Army Ten-Miler teams seeks runners By Rick Musselman Sports Editor Fort Belvoir Soldiers and civilians are invited to push their endurance to the limit to earn slots on the prestigious teams that will represent the installation at the 2018 Army Ten-Miler, Oct. 7 in Washington, D.C. The 2018 qualifier run is June 28, starting at 5:30 a.m. at Mile Marker 0 at the south end of the George Washington Estate parking lot at Mount Vernon. The Army Ten-Miler is an annual event sponsored by the U.S. Army Joint Force Headquarters, Military District of Washington, National Capital Region. Celebrating its 34th installment this year, the ATM promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals and enhances community relations. Thirty-five thousand runners compete each year in the Army Ten-Miler—the second largest 10-mile race in the U.S., after the Philadelphia Broad Street Run. The qualifier, hosted by Fort Belvoir Headquarters Battalion and coordinated by Joe Castro, Kawamura Human Performance Center supervisory sports specialist, will establish the final Open and Mixed Active-Duty (coed) team rosters consisting of eight athletes each, with two
alternates, according to the best finish times. Runners should arrive for the qualifier by 5:15 a.m. to check in and register. The course follows an “out and back” format, by which athletes run 3.1 miles out (to the turnaround point at Waynewood Blvd.) along the paved path running along the banks of the Potomac River parallel to the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and then return to the starting point. Safety personnel and event support staff from the battalion, MWR and FBCH will be stationed at checkpoints along the race route to maintain communications and ensure participants stay hydrated and accidents can be dealt with, if necessary. Once the final roster is established, the Belvoir teams will train two or three mornings each week, right up to the main event, Oct. 7. During the actual Army Ten-Miler, only the top four times for each team will be used to tally the total team time. For the Mixed Team, at least one of the four recorded times must be a female’s. Fort Belvoir team coordinators will continue to recruit runners in the coming weeks to participate in the prestigious race. For information, call Joe Castro, 703-806-4659.
Ryan Stickel wraps up the final leg of the 2017 Army Ten-Miler qualifier run at Mount Vernon. This year’s qualifier is June 28, starting at 5:30 a.m. at the Mount Vernon Trail.