The Gambler Last Man Standing
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
The Gambler Last Man Standing
The Gambler Last Man Standing is a unique lap-style endurance competition held at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama. The race takes place on a 2-mile loop consisting mostly of trails with some short road sections. Each loop includes an elevation gain of 183 feet. The trail follows a lake and runners are required to use a headlamp for laps occurring in low light or darkness.
The competition follows a specific format where participants must complete each 2-mile loop in under 40 minutes. All runners start each lap together. If a runner fails to finish a lap within the time limit, they are eliminated. This continues until only one competitor remains. To be crowned the winner, the final runner must complete one last solo lap within the time frame.
Participants "gamble" on their performance by earning a poker chip for every successful lap. Each chip represents one US dollar. At specific milestones, runners can choose to "cash out" their chips and exit the race or "donate" them to the winner's pot. If a runner continues but fails to finish a lap, their chips are automatically added to the winner's pot. After 100 miles (50 laps), the rules change: the time limit for each lap decreases by two minutes every round, and runners can no longer cash out.
Available distances and milestones:
- 14 miles (7 laps) for a finisher medal.
- 28 miles (14 laps) for a custom hoodie.
- 50 miles (25 laps) for a custom poker chip.
- 100 miles (50 laps) for a custom belt buckle.
A full-service aid station with food and hydration is available at the start/finish area. This is a cup-less event, so participants must provide their own bottles. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
