Fri, Jan 1, 2027

The First Howl: Trails & Nog

Palmer, AK

Opens Nov 6, 2026Annual since at least 2026

10 Miles9 Miles1 Mile

About the First Howl: Trails & Nog

This one runs on the Crevasse Moraine trail system, with several loops of different lengths through snowy terrain. The order you run them is decided at bib pickup by spinning a wheel. On each loop there is a hidden book to find, and you tear out the page matching your bib number and hand it to the race director when you finish, Barkley-style.

After the trail loops, there is an eggnog mile: drink a glass, run a short loop, repeat until done, without getting sick. Parking at Crevasse Moraine is limited, and a MatSu Borough day-use permit is required, so carpooling and planning ahead are both worth it. Permits are available at a kiosk on site.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

9 Miles · 2026 results

41finishers

1:15:03winner

2:12:46median

3:21:46cutoff

Top 3: Zachary Cheyette (1:15:03) · Pete Harrison (1:17:08) · Joshua Taylor (1:23:51)

1 Miles · 2026 results

11finishers

10:04winner

13:54median

19:22cutoff

Top 3: Joshua Taylor (10:04) · Mark Snyder (11:45) · Gregory Lancaster (12:16)

The First Howl: Trails & Nog has been held every year since at least 2026. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 9 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Sep 10, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

10 Miles1/1/2027 10:00$60

9 Miles1/1/2027 10:00$45

1 Mile1/1/2027 13:00$20

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Common Questions About the The First Howl: Trails & Nog

Will I finish last at the First Howl: Trails & Nog?

Almost certainly not. Half the 9 Miles field finished slower than 2:12:46, and the last recorded finisher came in around 3:21:46, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the First Howl: Trails & Nog a good first 9 Miles?

It is a small race (41 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 9 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the First Howl: Trails & Nog?

The 9 Miles winner ran 1:15:03 while the median finisher took 2:12:46. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.