Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Army Ten-Miler
Every October, tens of thousands of runners pack the roads around the Pentagon for the Army Ten-Miler, and for much of the DMV running community it marks the unofficial start of fall racing season. The course is fast and the crowds are loud. Here's how to pick up your bib, get to the start, and find the best places to watch.
Race Day Details
The 42nd annual Army Ten-Miler takes place Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. The race starts and finishes at the Pentagon, and race time is 8 a.m., with waves going off in order after that.
Leave the backpack at home. No backpacks or gym bags are allowed on race day. Garment check has its own rules, which you can read here.
Packet Pickup and the Expo
There's no packet pickup on race day, so plan to get your bib early. The Army Ten-Miler Expo is at The St. James Flagship, 6805 Industrial Road in Springfield, Va., and runs Oct. 9 and 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
Bring a photo ID and your bib number. Everyone goes through a quick security check, and then you head to the pickup tables with your ID and bib number. If you're collecting for teammates, one person can pick up up to eight packets, but you'll need a photocopy or phone photo of each runner's ID, and each runner's waiver has to be signed.
There is a shuttle to the expo on both days from three different locations.
Franconia Metro
Service Hours: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Frequency: Every 30 minutes
Last Pick-Up from Franconia Metro: 5:30 PM
Last Drop-Off at Franconia Metro: 6:00 PM
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel (Arlington)
Service Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Frequency: Every hour
Last Pick-Up from Hotel: 4:00 PM
Last Drop-Off at Hotel: 5:00 PM
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (Bowling Center) for CAC or Military ID Holders
Service Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Shuttle Pick-Up Times from Myer: 9 AM & 11 AM
1st Shuttle Departure from St. James to Myer: 11 AM
Last Shuttle Departure from St. James to Myer: 1 PM
Getting to the Start Line
Metro is the easiest option. The Pentagon station on the Blue and Yellow Lines opens at 6 a.m. on Sundays, and the first trains will be packed with runners. Aim to arrive well before your corral closes, since security lines can back up. WMATA has opened early for big races before, so check wmata.com the week of the race for any service changes.
There is no race parking available at the Pentagon, but there are nearby options for drivers within walking distance.
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (paid parking): 850 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA and 955 15th Street South, Arlington, VA.
Opens: 5 a.m.
*Located across the street from the Pentagon
Crystal City parking garage (free parking): 1750 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA.
Opens: 6 a.m.
*Located a half mile’s walk from the Pentagon
If you travel by Lyft, Uber, or taxi, the best drop off location is the intersection of 12th and South Hayes Streets in Arlington, VA. (Directly in front of the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.)
The Course
The race leaves the Pentagon and heads north on Route 110, with Arlington National Cemetery on your left. Then it runs through Rosslyn and across Key Bridge into Georgetown. After a stretch past the Kennedy Center, the course swings onto Independence Avenue and along the Mall and Tidal Basin. You'll pass the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial.
The monuments are the easy part. The last few miles take you back across the Potomac on the 14th Street Bridge and down the highway toward the Pentagon. That stretch is wide, exposed, and mostly empty of spectators.
You'll need to average 15-minute miles or faster to finish within the 2 hour 30 minute cutoff, measured from when the last wave crosses the start. The finish line and official scoring close at 11:30 a.m.
The full course map is here.
Spectator Tips
The course passes through some of the best cheering real estate in the city. To see your runner more than once, plan your spots around Metro.
Georgetown
Runners come down M Street between miles 2 and 3. There's room on both sides of the street for crowds to spread out.
The Watergate Steps
Just past mile 4, the Watergate Steps sit along the Potomac River, below the Lincoln Memorial. They make a good perch to watch runners before they turn onto Independence Avenue.
The National Mall
Along Independence Avenue from near the Lincoln Memorial to the Smithsonian Castle, there's plenty of room to spread out. The Smithsonian and L'Enfant Plaza Metro stations are both close by, so you can catch your runner and still make it back to Virginia for the finish.
Start/Finish
The start and finish areas are in the Pentagon parking lots. Expect security screening, and pick a meeting spot ahead of time, because finding someone in that crowd without a plan is hopeless.
