The Gambler Last Man Standing

The Gambler Last Man Standing

The Gambler Last Man Standing is a lap-style endurance event held at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama. The course is a clearly marked two-mile loop composed mostly of trails with a few short road sections; part of the loop runs beside a lake. Each loop has an elevation gain of 183 feet.

Competitors must complete each two-mile lap within 40 minutes to remain in the competition. For every successful lap a runner earns one poker chip worth one US dollar. A competitor may collect up to 50 poker chips, which corresponds to 100 miles. At defined milestone laps runners who complete that lap within the time limit may either cash out their chips for cash or donate them to the Last Man Standing Bucket; choosing to cash out removes the runner from the competition. The milestone laps are:

• 5 laps (10 miles) - cash out option
• 10 laps (20 miles) - cash out option
• 15 laps (30 miles) - cash out option
• 20 laps (40 miles) - cash out option
• 25 laps (50 miles) - cash out option
• 30 laps (60 miles) - cash out option
• 35 laps (70 miles) - cash out option
• 40 laps (80 miles) - cash out option
• 45 laps (90 miles) - cash out option
• 50 laps (100 miles) - cash out option

After 50 laps the format changes: no more poker chips or cash-outs, no pacers allowed, and each subsequent lap time limit decreases by two minutes per lap until one runner remains. Pacers are allowed only between 20 and 100 miles. Participants must be 19 or older. Race day check-in takes place at the White Oak Pavilion; there is no early check-in. A full-service aid station will operate at the start/finish area and this is a cup-less event so runners must provide their own drinking vessels. Park entry requires a small cash fee. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.