The Mount Hood Nutcracker Challenge
- Date Sat 13th December 2025
- Time 12:00PM EST
- Location Melrose, Massachusetts
- Price $28.00 - $39.60
- Races 2 races
Event summary
Get ready for a festive and exhilarating experience at the Mount Hood Nutcracker Challenge on Saturday, December 13, 2025! Located at the scenic Mount Hood Golf Club in Melrose, Middlesex, this highly anticipated event marks its 19th edition and promises to be a highlight of the holiday season. Participants can choose from a challenging 3.5-mile cross-country race or a more leisurely 2-mile non-competitive walk, both starting at 12:00 PM. Runners will love the dynamic course that changes every year, creating a new adventure for both seasoned competitors and newcomers alike.
Join fellow enthusiasts in this spirited event, where many arrive dressed in festive attire to add to the holiday cheer. With awards for the top three men and women overall, as well as age division winners, there's plenty of motivation to put your best foot forward. Plus, enjoy a delicious post-race pasta lunch and support local beneficiaries, including Housing Families, Inc. and the Melrose High School XC teams. Don’t miss your chance to experience the joy and challenge of the Mount Hood Nutcracker Challenge—where community, competition, and celebration come together in a truly unique way!
Join fellow enthusiasts in this spirited event, where many arrive dressed in festive attire to add to the holiday cheer. With awards for the top three men and women overall, as well as age division winners, there's plenty of motivation to put your best foot forward. Plus, enjoy a delicious post-race pasta lunch and support local beneficiaries, including Housing Families, Inc. and the Melrose High School XC teams. Don’t miss your chance to experience the joy and challenge of the Mount Hood Nutcracker Challenge—where community, competition, and celebration come together in a truly unique way!
Organiser's Description
A RECAP ABOUT THE 2024 RACE (IN ARTICLE FORMAT) HAS NOW BEEN POSTED.
GO TO THE "RESULTS AND PHOTOS - 2024" TAB.
The Mount Hood Nutcracker Challenge is excited to welcome runners and walkers again for this year's 19th round over the hilly Mount Hood Golf Club [https://mthoodgolfclub.com/images/speasyimagegallery/albums/1/images/mthood-course-25.jpg]. This race is a unique 3.5-mile cross-country race in the Greater Boston area in that the course changes every year. Runners look forward to a vigorous team competition or competing individually, a challenging course, and vying for the coveted nutcrackers! Others arrive festively dressed for this December race, and come for the experience and challenge of XC running.
There is also a non-competitive 2-mile walk for those who want an easier option while still enjoying the festive nature of the event, and to help support the race beneficiaries.
Race Start Time
12:00 pm for both the 3.5-mile XC race and 2-mile walk. Starting line this year is 0.2 miles from the Melrose Fish & Game Club (see below).
VENUE
The host venue is the Melrose Fish & Game Club [https://tinypic.host/image/Melrose-Fish-%2B-Game-Club-2.2kr1xZ]. For those unfamiliar with this location, directions are the same as for the Mount Hood clubhouse except that you take the road to the left of the clubhouse (Stillman Rd.) and travel 1/3 mile further. The majority of race parking is closer to the clubhouse, so be prepared for a warm-up walk or jog to reach the venue.
RACE LIMIT
250 entrants
XC TEAM REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
=> SEE TEAMS INFO PAGE
AWARDS
Top 3 M+F overall
Top 3 M+F in age divisions (19-under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-over)
Top 3 teams in each division
The walk is a non-competitive event.
AMENITIES
* Nutcracker figurines to awards winners
* Melrose Fish & Game Clubs famous post-race pasta lunch
* Cash bar
BENEFICIARIES
Housing Families, Inc. [https://housingfamilies.org/] and the Melrose HS XC teams.
STROLLERS
No strollers allowed
RACE DAY REGISTRATION HOURS
10:00 11:30 am at the Melrose Fish & Game Club
BIB PICK-UP LOCATION & HOURS
* Fri. 12/12/24: 3 - 7 pm at Marathon Sports, 401 Main St., Melrose
* Race day: 10:00 - 11:45 am, Melrose Fish & Game Club
GO TO THE "RESULTS AND PHOTOS - 2024" TAB.
The Mount Hood Nutcracker Challenge is excited to welcome runners and walkers again for this year's 19th round over the hilly Mount Hood Golf Club [https://mthoodgolfclub.com/images/speasyimagegallery/albums/1/images/mthood-course-25.jpg]. This race is a unique 3.5-mile cross-country race in the Greater Boston area in that the course changes every year. Runners look forward to a vigorous team competition or competing individually, a challenging course, and vying for the coveted nutcrackers! Others arrive festively dressed for this December race, and come for the experience and challenge of XC running.
There is also a non-competitive 2-mile walk for those who want an easier option while still enjoying the festive nature of the event, and to help support the race beneficiaries.
Race Start Time
12:00 pm for both the 3.5-mile XC race and 2-mile walk. Starting line this year is 0.2 miles from the Melrose Fish & Game Club (see below).
VENUE
The host venue is the Melrose Fish & Game Club [https://tinypic.host/image/Melrose-Fish-%2B-Game-Club-2.2kr1xZ]. For those unfamiliar with this location, directions are the same as for the Mount Hood clubhouse except that you take the road to the left of the clubhouse (Stillman Rd.) and travel 1/3 mile further. The majority of race parking is closer to the clubhouse, so be prepared for a warm-up walk or jog to reach the venue.
RACE LIMIT
250 entrants
XC TEAM REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
=> SEE TEAMS INFO PAGE
AWARDS
Top 3 M+F overall
Top 3 M+F in age divisions (19-under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-over)
Top 3 teams in each division
The walk is a non-competitive event.
AMENITIES
* Nutcracker figurines to awards winners
* Melrose Fish & Game Clubs famous post-race pasta lunch
* Cash bar
BENEFICIARIES
Housing Families, Inc. [https://housingfamilies.org/] and the Melrose HS XC teams.
STROLLERS
No strollers allowed
RACE DAY REGISTRATION HOURS
10:00 11:30 am at the Melrose Fish & Game Club
BIB PICK-UP LOCATION & HOURS
* Fri. 12/12/24: 3 - 7 pm at Marathon Sports, 401 Main St., Melrose
* Race day: 10:00 - 11:45 am, Melrose Fish & Game Club
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