You OTTER RUN This 5k

Race Director Michael and his 3C Race Productions family organized the 1st Annual Otter Run 5k in the Mine Falls Park, in Nashua, NH.

If you are new to trails &/or cross-country, you otter run this 5k! While the course offers pavement and double-track trail, it can challenge both the trail-curious and seasoned off-road runners. The hot top begins at the starting line until the dirt access road (near the park entrance) and reappears for a stretch between miles one and two. Otherwise it's unpaved and flast (flat + fast = flast).

For the more experienced trail runner, &/or those who seek technical footing over undulating hills, you will not find it on this race course. Still, if you wish to tempo run on a hard-packed surface you otter return in 2010!

While water is a theme along the entire 5k, it's available for drinking before the start and at the finish. If you get thirsty in 5ks, best to carry it with you. Those canals and ponds don't taste as potable to us non-otter folk.

I arrived early and jogged the marked 5k course to collect these photos:


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My priority was to procure the cute otter-faced race t-shirt for my woodland critters collection. I also hoped to explore unfamiliar woods and test my turnover after the 10 mile trail race last weekend—and three back-to-back days of training.

During the race, I increased my pace by over 10 seconds per mile and finished up with what felt like a hobble but was surprisingly a sub-seven swoosh. In hindsight, I went out a bit too fast for my taste though I was comfortable and adequately challenged throughout, as tempo running promises. With a mile remaining and no one on my tail, I eased up and watched two women ahead trade positions. Too bad Tom P was under the weather or we'd have finished even closer together—most likely, with him leading and me impersonating the run and slide land-travel technique of the North American "Trail" Otter.


For Otter Run 5k overall results click here.

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Having recently run at Beaver Brook and now the Otter Run, I got to comparing these two animals...

River Otters are members of the weasel family. These mammals have 36 teeth, tails that are 1/3 of their length, and are carnivores. They can hold their breath underwater for up to 8 minutes, spend 2/3 of their time on land and live in burrows, with elaborate tunneling systems, near the water. Sometimes they take over abandoned beaver lodges. They have webbed back feet, grow up to 4 feet and about 25 pounds. Their babies are born toothless and blind. For more play with river otters roll here.

North American Beavers are among the largest rodents and are herbivores. Their front teeth never stop growing. With webbed back feet and wide flat tails they're excellent swimmers that can remain underwater for 15 minutes. Wild life architects they build dams and live in lodges, which house extended families. These mammals mate for life. They grow to 4+ feet and can weigh over 40 pounds. For more Beaver information gnaw here or here.

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Two additional 3C Race Productions races staged out of Mine Falls Park are the Moose on the Loose 10 mile Trail Race (8.23.09) and the Jack London 10k Trail Race (11.7.09).

In researching Mine Falls Park, I found this informative site: Hiking with Chuck.


Thanks for reading! See you on the trails!