The U.S. Army’s annual Ten-Miler Expo is relocating from D.C. to Springfield this year as a result of the National Guard’s continued presence in the nation’s capital.
The Army Ten-Miler announced earlier this week that its 2025 expo will be held at The St. James (6805 Industrial Road) in Springfield on Oct. 10-11 “due to the unavailability of the DC Armory” — the event’s traditional location.
The DC Armory is the District’s “most versatile venue” with 70,000 square feet of exhibition space and a 10,000-seat capacity that enables it to host concerts, athletic competitions and other events, per its website.
However, the facility has been occupied since mid-August by hundreds of National Guard troops as part of President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of D.C. While the emergency declaration that Trump used to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department expired yesterday (Wednesday), the D.C. National Guard’s deployment was extended earlier this month through December.
“We understand the DC Armory has been a long-standing and valued location for the Army Ten-Miler Expo,” Army Ten-Miler Race Director Matt Zimmerman said in a statement. “However, this year we are unable to use the facility as planned. The St. James provides a fantastic alternative, and we are committed to delivering a smooth and enjoyable Expo experience for all participants.”
Opened in 2018, The St. James in Springfield features 450,000 square feet of athletic and fitness amenities, including basketball and squash courts, a hockey rink, indoor turf fields, a waterpark, a spa, batting cages and workout studios. The company also has a location in Bethesda, Maryland, after its short-lived Reston gym closed last year.
This year’s Army Ten-Miler Expo will be downsized to fit in the Springfield gym’s basketball court, which offers less space than what the Armory could accommodate.
“Due to space limitations, there will be no vendors or military displays at the Expo,” organizers said in a press release. “However, static military display will be available at the Youth Zone at the Pentagon, on Race Day.”
The expo will still feature a gear store where attendees can shop for merchandise from the Army Ten Miler and its official sponsors. Various military activities are also planned, and runners can pick up their packets and shirts for the race, which will take place in D.C. on Sunday, Oct. 12, starting at 8 a.m.
The expo last from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11.
Organized by the Military District of Washington and sponsored by the Association of the United States Army, the Ten-Miler has drawn more than 488,100 runners since its inception in 1985 as a fundraiser for the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs. To date, the event has raised $8 million, according to its website.
Typically started at the Pentagon in Arlington, the race crosses the Potomac River into D.C., looping through the National Mall before finishing in Crystal City. There is also a youth run and a virtual option, though the latter is limited to 2,000 registrants.
This story has been corrected to reflect that the Association of the United States Army is the main sponsor of the Army Ten-Miler, not its organizer as initially stated.
