The Gambler Last Man Standing
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Format and competition rules
The Gambler is a lap-style last-person-standing competition held on a 2-mile loop. Each lap must be completed within 40 minutes or the competitor is eliminated. Each successful lap earns a poker chip worth $1; a competitor may accumulate up to 50 chips (100 miles). Chips may be cashed out at the following lap milestones only if that lap is completed within the time limit:
- 5 (10 miles)
- 10 (20 miles)
- 15 (30 miles)
- 20 (40 miles)
- 25 (50 miles)
- 30 (60 miles)
- 35 (70 miles)
- 40 (80 miles)
- 45 (90 miles)
- 50 (100 miles)
Choosing to cash out removes the competitor from the race and cannot be reversed. Chips from eliminated runners go into the Last Man Standing Bucket. To win the Last Man Standing Bucket, a competitor must start and complete the final lap solo. All participants must be 19 or older. After lap 50 (100 miles) there are no more chips or cash-outs, pacers are not allowed, and each lap’s time limit decreases by 2 minutes per lap (examples given for lap 51, 52, 53).
Location, course and support
The event is at Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, Alabama, with race-day check-in at the White Oak Pavilion (33.350094, -86.727491). The course is a clearly marked 2-mile loop, mostly trails with short road sections, a lakeside portion, and about 183 feet of elevation gain per loop. A full-service aid station is at the start/finish area each lap; this is a cup-less event and crew assistance on the course is not allowed. Pacers are permitted only between 20 miles and 100 miles, one pacer at a time. Awards include a finisher’s medal at 7 laps (14 miles), a T-shirt at 14 laps (28 miles), a 50-mile poker chip at 25 laps, and a 100-mile belt buckle at 50 laps. The event runs rain or shine; average February temperatures cited are about 56°F high and 37°F low. No refunds. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.