About the Gopher Battalion Army-Ten Miler Team
Building Fitness and National Competition
The Golden Gopher's Army Ten-Miler Team builds physical fitness, resiliency, and the spirit of competition by training for the annual Army Ten-Miler Race. The Golden Gopher Battalion typically sends two teams of runners to compete in this event each year in Washington, D.C. This race is one of the largest 10-mile races in the nation, with over 35,0000 participants from around the world. The Gopher Battalion has a long history of success in this race, including finishing 5th in the Military Academies and ROTC Division in 2023.
Army Ten Miler is an excellent way for Cadets to build morale and friendships between different MS levels. Cadets and senior Army leaders can also meet their peers from other schools nationwide and senior Army leaders. In the past two years, Gopher Battalion cadets have met and spoken with the Army's Sergeant Major and the Cadet Command commander. Gopher Battalion running teams explore our nation's capital and experience the annual AUSA meeting and Expo each year while traveling for the race.
How do you become a member of the elite Army Ten-Miler Team?
The Army Ten Miler Team hosts three tryouts each year—one at the end of the spring semester and two in August. The tryout consists of a 5k time trial. The competition teams will be built based on the fastest 5K times; however, all cadets that meet the minimum standards can train with the Ten Miler teams. The minimum standards for males and females to train with the Ten Miler team are as follows:
| Male minimum standards: | Female minimum standards: | |
| 5K run: 24:00 minutes | 5k run: 27:00 minutes | |
| ACFT: 500 | ACFT: 500 | |
| Passing HT/WT | Passing HT/WT |
Cadets must remain in good academic standing throughout the training and execution of the event.
Training and Competition
The team practices remotely during the summer and six days a week in the fall semester. Practices are every Monday through Saturday during the semester, usually from 6:00 AM to 7:45 AM during the week and from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Saturdays. The race is held in Washington, D.C., each year in mid-October.