Nick Scudder moved to Boulder last August. It only took him nine months to become part of the rich local running lore.

It was the combination of his graduation from college and the natural lure of making his home training ground at altitude that drew Scudder to Colorado. The move paid off Monday, as Scudder won the men’s citizen’s race at the 45th Bolder Boulder 10K.

Scudder won in 30 minutes, 3 seconds, outpacing runner-up Frank Lara by 14 seconds. Two former CU Buffs, Andy Wacker and Kashon Harrison, finished third and fifth, respectively, with former Colorado State runner Mason Brown sandwiched between them in fourth.

“This race, it just seemed like such a cool part of the culture of the town,” Scudder said. “I’ve watched the live stream in the past, and I keep up with the pros. But this was my first time running.”

Scudder is a former NCAA cross country regional champ at Charlotte who finished 30th at the 2023 NCAA cross country championships. After graduating a year ago, he moved to Boulder and dominated the final half of his first race at the Bolder Boulder.

Lara and Wacker surged to the early lead, but Scudder kept within striking distance and made his move at about the halfway point of the race. By the time Scudder reached the stretch run at Folsom Field, he looked around to discover a comfortable gap leading him into the finish line.

“I was just kind of running my own race,” Scudder said. “I think we got out a little quick, maybe. So I didn’t end up catching them until around mile three. I thought I’d sit a bit, but I just decided to run my race. And then the fifth mile, where it was downhill, I just tried to widen the gap.”

Although the sporadic rain showers throughout the morning thinned as the bulk of the citizen’s field began streaming into Folsom, when the leaders hit the finish line it was raining steadily.

The conditions were optimal for the athletes, and Scudder said he began thinking a Memorial Day victory wasn’t out of the question after his effort at the Colfax Marathon last week. Running a six-mile relay leg (not the entire marathon), Scudder said he was encouraged by the pace he set and felt replicating it would lead to good things at the Bolder Boulder. That’s exactly what happened.

“I’m from North Carolina, and I feel like I got soft with humidity,” Scudder said. “Today I felt the humidity a little bit. But it was just awesome weather out here. Fifty degrees, a little drizzle, that’s awesome for 10K runs. I ran the Colfax last weekend, the relay, and I ran like a 4:54 pace for a six-mile leg. So I figured I could win if I just ran the same thing again. I just didn’t realize some of the guys that would be in this race. It was a pretty good field. It might be better than last year.”