Ultra Trail Poulx - Last Survivor 2025

During this trail, the last runner will be crowned the winner! 🏆 “But how is that? It's upside down!”... Oh no! It’s the Ultra Trail Poulx - Last Survivor, the mid-December meeting for some crazy trail runners 🤪. In the heart of Gard 🌊, between Nîmes, Uzès & the Pont du Gard 🌉, you'll progress along a nature trail 🌿 with only one objective: to run to infinity (and beyond) 🚀.

Also called “Infinity Trail Poulx”, this race might give you goosebumps 😨. But as they say: the small bug doesn't eat the big one! 🪳 In the Gardon massif ⛰️, a protected natural site and declared "French biosphere reserve" by UNESCO ♻️, you'll start on a loop 🔁 of 6.704 km and 225 mD+. Easy so far! 😅 But it wouldn't be an ultra-trail if we didn’t give you more details! You'll have to complete this course as many times as possible at a speed of 7 km/h 😮‍💨, which equates to less than 1 hour for each loop 😅. The exact distance of 6.704 km comes from a clever calculation that allows running the distance of 100 miles in the equivalent of 24h (which gives us about 160 km, if you're not good at math 🤓).

The concept of this race is simple and original (it's a slight understatement 👀): endure as long as possible until there is only one runner left, who is then declared the winner. Your legs 🦵 might surely give out before your mental strength 🧠 in the face of the cumulative elevation you'll quickly accrue as you complete loops 📈. On this beautiful marked course in the wild, passages through woodlands 🌲, sweeping views 👁️ over the cliffs of the Gardon massif, and travels through wild dales will be your allies to push your limits 💪. 

The course will mainly consist of single track trails through scrubland (you won’t have space to overtake 🏎), some passages on broader paths, some climbs (but steep 🗻) and almost no tarmac (pull out the little spikes 👟). All the runners will start together on the starting line 🏁. But don't panic, the first segment of the course, rolling and fairly wide, will allow establishing an initial ranking based on everyone's cruising speeds 🚦. From km 3, the terrain becomes more technical: slippery rocks 🪨, roots, trees... 🌳 All this on a hilly section up to km 5 🥰. The last km will be more rolling, but don't rest on your laurels! 😬 The earlier you arrive at the life base, the more time you have to eat 🥖, warm up, and maybe close your eyes for a moment 😴. The organization has thought of everything for your comfort between loops: showers 🚿, dressing rooms, toilets 🚽, solid refreshment (pasta🍝, pizzas 🍕, coffee...). Make sure to use your time at the life base to recharge your batteries 🔋, as you’ll have neither music 🎶 nor poles allowed to help you push through the next loop. However, if you’re still in the race by nightfall 🌛, you must wear your headlamp 💡 if you don’t want to trip on the narrow paths 😅. At the same time, don’t forget your winter gear! ❄️ It could come in handy if the weather conditions become changeable as the race progresses. And in any case, night temperatures can drop down to 0°C! 🥶 Even in the South, you can’t escape winter equipment: fleece 🧥, gloves 🧤, scarf 🧣. 

You will need it the next day anyway if you plan to visit the area. We've got some plans for you! You can't miss the emblematic Pont du Gard 🤌. A symbol of Roman engineering, this 50 m high bridge with three levels is the highest known aqueduct bridge from the Roman world and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site 🌍. Following the Gardon river, you can admire the Gorges du Gardon 🏞. This 29 km long canyon is an exceptional natural site 🤩. These places are only a short distance from the well-known French Rome: we refer to Nîmes! Renowned for its seven hills and architectural heritage, this city will send you straight back to the time of Julius Caesar 🌿. You can visit the famous Arènes de Nîmes, one of the best-preserved ancient amphitheaters 🎭 in the world 📍. It hosts bullfights 🐂, Camargue races 🐎, as well as cultural events (concerts 🎤, shows…). Continuing with historic monuments, we suggest you take a detour to the Maison Carrée. This Roman temple is dedicated to Julius Caesar, it is the best-preserved in the world and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since September 2023 🏛. After feasting your eyes 👁 on the sights, you would do well to stop by the local market. On the stalls, you'll find picholine, the most widespread green olive 🫒 in France 🇨🇵. It pairs perfectly with a piece of pélardon, a goat milk cheese round 🐐 (you almost became one during the race 😵‍💫). Its nutty flavor will complement a glass of wine 🍷 from the Rhône Valley vineyards in Gard. This weekend feast will be well-deserved after participating in the Ultra Trail Poulx! 🥳

So, will you be the last survivor of this second edition? 🔥

Excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous to health, consume it with moderation.