2e REI: 2025 Infernal Run | French Foreign Legion Information

On May 17, 2025, the Camp des Garrigues near Nîmes, southern France, hosted another edition of the Infernal Run, an extreme obstacle course organized by the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) of the French Foreign Legion. The event attracted 800 participants, including a record-breaking 300 civilians eager to test their limits alongside legionnaires and 300 members from non-Legion military units. This year’s race was graced by the presence of Major Gérald Michiara as a special guest.

The Infernal (“Hellish”) Run challenged both body and spirit across eight miles (13 km) of rugged terrain, with 820 feet (250 m) of elevation gain and 21 intense obstacles, including three new additions. Despite the demanding nature of the challenge – and a mix of sun and rain – the atmosphere remained upbeat and supportive. Civilians, police officers, gendarmes, and legionnaires ran, climbed, and crawled side by side, encouraging one another along the way. “The goal is to build cohesion with civilians through sport and to share the spirit of the Legion,” noted Lieutenant Guillaume, media relations officer of the regiment.

Created over ten years ago for the legionnaires, this race was opened to the public in 2023 to celebrate 40 years of the regiment’s presence in Nîmes. Organizers now aim to establish it as both a local tradition and a hallmark competition in the Legion’s sporting calendar.

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