Read the previous press release with further information for runners attending the Expo on Saturday and arriving at the Pentagon race site Sunday.

The 21st Annual Army Ten-Miler, America's largest 10-mile race, attracts over 20,000 runners from all over the world to participate in weekend activities. Race weekend is not just for the runners -there is something for everyone! The weekend kicks off this Friday with a two-day race Expo, press conference, clinics and the GEICO Pasta Dinner at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.

The race starts at 8:00AM on October 2 at the Pentagon. Other race day activities include Youth Runs, 94.7 Post Race Party featuring bands, entertainment and a live broadcast, the HOOAH Tent Zone, and a Youth Activity Zone complete with displays, inflatables, the GEICO Gecko, McGruff the Crime Dog, and much more. For complete race weekend information, see www.armytenmiler.com.

Participants in the 2005 Army Ten-Miler hail from all around the world. Below is a list of notable runners competing in the 2005 Army Ten- Miler:

3rd Infantry Division (3rd I.D.)Army Spouse Ten-Miler Team - These Ten- Miler teams are made up of 40 spouses who are running in the place of their deployed husband. For more than three months, a team of military spouses from Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield have been training to compete in the Army's premier annual road race.

"Our Soldiers can't participate in their own race, and so we are in essence showing our colors, the 3rd I.D. colors in Washington and saying 'our Soldiers can't be here to compete, but we are here in place of them, and in honor of them," runner Jacqui Coffman says. The group is well past the halfway mark on their road to the starting line in Washington D.C. On a recent Saturday, the runners eased into a training run that left many breathless, but exhilarated.

SFC Gerardo "Ponch" Avila - SFC Avila is the fastest runner on the Fort Lewis Men's Team. He is an inspiration in both his running and determination. While assigned to 1st BDE, 25th ID operating near Mosul in Iraq, SFC Avila was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). His driver lost both legs and SFC Avila was injured in the face, eye, and has lost much of his hearing in one ear. Several operations are still pending. This deployment to Iraq, injury, and rehabilitation all happened less than a year ago. He hasn't slowed down a bit, inspiring his team and many others along the way.

Fort Bragg Women's Team - 2005 Commander's Cup Female Champions and ATM Record Holders The Fort Bragg Ten-Miler Team was established in 1996 and has been victorious at the Army Ten-Miler in 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2004. In 2004, they set the race record for the active duty women's division. Members from last year's champion team who will be returning this year include SGT Michelle Lopez, 1LT Julie Murray, and SGT Sara Derosa. The 2005 Fort Lewis Army Ten- Miler Teams, coached by Lieutenant Colonel Heidi L. Grimm, with four different teams in this year's race.

American Athletes Traveling to the Army Ten Miler

Christine Clifton, New York, NY
Christine began her professional athletic career as a runner in 1997 and in 2000, age 28, she debuted at the Chicago Marathon in 2:32:45 for 7th place. 2005 Member of Moving Comfort Team; 2003 National 25 Km Champion

Captain Ryan M. Kirkpatrick
The 2002 Army Ten-Miler champion (48:35), second in 2004 (48:43). Captain Kirkpatrick is a distance runner for the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program's track and field team. Kirkpatrick won USA Track and Field's 2002 National 10K Road Race Championship with a time of 28:28 at Mobile, Ala.

Sergeant Sandu D. Rebenciuc
Sgt. Rebenciuc ran steeplechase and distance events for the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program's track and field team until 2005 when he switched his emphasis to modern pentathlon. He was the Armed Forces Champion at USA Track and Field's 2003 and 2004 National Cross Country Championships.

Captain Clay Schwabe
Captain Schwabe is a middle-distance runner for the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program's track and field team. A member of the "Army of One" squad that won the International Armed Forces division of the 2004 Army Ten-Miler. An NCAA All-American at Princeton University.

Local Running Standouts

Samia Akbar, Herndon, VA-- American University's most decorated female runner ever and holds five indoor and three outdoor school records.

Darrell General, 39, Hyattsville, MD--1987 and 1988 Army Ten- Miler winner. He has qualified for 5 consecutive US Olympic Marathon Trials 1990-2004. 1st American, 1990 Boston Marathon.

Christopher Graff, Arlington, VA 1999 Army Ten-Miler Winner (48:20); 5th 2004 Olympic Trials 10,000m ; 2nd, USA 10 mile Road Championship 2004

Jim Hage, 47, Lanham, MD--A two-time winner of the Army Ten Miler (1990-49:31, 1993-50:37); the only two-time consecutive winner of the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon (1988-2:21:59, 1989-2:20:23) and a three-time participant in the Olympic Marathon Trials, 8th place in 1992.

Alisa Harvey, 40, Manassas, VA--Three-time Army Ten-Miler winner - 1998, 1999, 2003 and a hometown favorite.

Robyn Humphrey, 41, Ellicott City, MD--(1:07:02) 2005 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, DC (4/05)

Heather Matz Jorris, Yardley, PA--A Penn State University graduate and a professional Ironman competitor in her first Army Ten-Miler.

Meghan McLaughlin, 25, Reston, VA--Radford University, Big South conference 10,000m Track Champion during her junior and senior year. Her post collegiate career has been with Potomac River Running; in November, 2003, she ran her first marathon at Philadelphia and placed 3rd for women (2:46:52).

Martha Merz, 42, Mystic, CT--ATM Masters Record Holder and three- time winner - 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Patti Shull, 45, Ashburn, VA--Army Ten-Miler Masters Female 1998 and 1999; (1:04:20) 2004 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run

Michael Wardian, 30, Arlington, VA--1st American & Local 21st (52:00) in the 2005 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, DC; prolific marathoner.

Leslie Minnix-Wolfe, Herndon VA--She qualified for and competed in the 1996 Women's Olympic Marathon Trials. As a Masters runner, she runs between 62 and 65 minutes for 10M races. Her most recent win was the New Orleans Half Marathon earlier this year.

Robyn Humphrey--She has been racing locally since 1990. Humphrey was first Master at the 30th Annapolis 10 Miler with a time of 64:53.

Diana Pool--McDaniel College 2002 graduate where she ran track and cross country. She continues to train with her college coach, Doug Renner, and competes for the Central Maryland Athletic Club.

Peter Sherry--An accomplished athlete who owns two running stores named Gotta Run in Crystal City's Pentagon Row and Annapolis. He was a 5-time All American at Georgetown University and won the 2003 Marine Corps Marathon.

Britton Stackhouse--She ran cross country and track at Wake Forest University '97 - '01. Stackhouse focuses on longer distances of 10 miles to marathons and won the 2001 Mobile Marathon in a course record time. She runs for the Georgetown Running Company.

Produced by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, the race starts and finishes at the Pentagon passing such national treasures as the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Capitol as it makes its way through our Nation's Capital. For more runner information, see the Army Ten Miler Web site Media Page and download the 2005 Media Kit.

Photo: Finishers at the 2004 Army Ten Miler.