Carrie Verdon is becoming a familiar face amid the pro field at the annual Bolder Boulder.

Still, much has changed since the former University of Colorado distance standout last lined up for Boulder’s Memorial Day 10K.

First of all, it’s no longer Carrie Verdon, as her marriage last summer changed her moniker to Carrie Ellwood. More relevantly, at least for the task at hand Monday, is that Ellwood is coming off one of the most impressive performances of her career.

Less than two weeks ago, Ellwood won the USA Track and Field 25K championship in Grand Rapids, Mich. Ellwood established an American women’s outdoor 25K record, finishing in 1 hour, 22 minutes, 27 seconds. Former BYU standout Casey Clinger also set an American record while winning the men’s race, while another former CU runner taking part in the Bolder Boulder, Joe Klecker, topped the former record while finishing second.

“It’s a quick turnaround, but I’m in marathon training right now so all of it’s hard,” Ellwood said. “Coming back to a 10K, obviously it’s a little shorter distance, but it’s at altitude so it’s typically not as fast. It will be a good strength day.

“I’d never done a 25K distance. It’s a bit of an off distance. A little bit over a half-marathon. So I didn’t really know what to expect. Definitely was not shooting for the American record. But it was just a good day and came away with a victory.”

Once again, Ellwood will be part of a team comprised entirely of former CU distance runners, getting joined on the USA White team by Makena Morley and Mackenzie Caldwell. Morley made her Bolder Boulder debut last year, finishing sixth, while Caldwell will run the event for the first time.

Morley and Caldwell were part of the national championship won by the CU women’s cross country team in 2018.“I just want to race well and manage the course well and everything,” Caldwell said. “This is my first Bolder Boulder, so it’s definitely an advantage to be here, but I’ve never run the course before. It’s going to be a lot of new things, but I’m really excited to run into that stadium at the end. I’ve watched so many of those races with them running into (the stadium) at the end. I’ve gotten to watch it, and now I get to do it.”

Ellwood has finished in the top eight in each of the past two Bolder Boulder pro races, finishing eighth last year and third in 2023.

Although running a competitive 10K so quickly on the heels of a fast-paced 25K isn’t necessarily a textbook training plan, Ellwood remains attracted to the Bolder Boulder’s unique atmosphere, as well as the opportunity to compete alongside fellow former Buffs.

“Super, super fun. It’s awesome that they have this race as a team event, and then being able to be on the CU team makes it a little extra special,” Ellwood said. “Obviously it’s in Boulder, we get to finish in the stadium, everyone is cheering for the Buffs whether they know us or not. It’s always a really, really fun team to be on. A lot of the locals know us.”