Sat, Dec 12, 2026

The Mount Hood Nutcracker Challenge

Melrose, MA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022
3.5 Miles2 Miles

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Dec 7, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

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About the Mount Hood Nutcracker Challenge

The course runs across a golf club's fairways, so expect open rolling ground with real hills threaded through it. Cart paths and short road sections mix in with the grass, and the route changes from year to year, so even runners who have done this before are seeing something new. One water stop sits roughly mid-race, and the finish comes in at the Fish and Game Club parking lot.

Bib pickup runs the evening before at a local running store on Main Street, with race-morning pickup at the Fish and Game Club as a backup. Parking is near the clubhouse, but the start is a short walk up the road from there, so build in a few extra minutes. A pasta lunch and a cash bar are waiting after you finish.

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Distances & Start Times

3.5 Miles12/12/2026 12:00$35
2 Miles12/12/2026 12:00$25

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