Ten years ago, Dylan Carder ran his first 5K race. Joined by his father, who he convinced to run alongside him, the then eight year old never knew he would one day sign to compete as a distance runner at the colligate level.

Carder last week committed to distance running powerhouse North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. While he will not be able to put literal pen to paper until the virus pandemic has abated and he can be joined at a ceremony by his friends and family, the Berthoud High senior achieved a feat reserved for only the best of the best.

While he is humble, Carder does understand that he is joining rarified air as one who will take his considerable athletic talents to the next level. It was something that he did not realize was an attainable goal until just a couple of years ago.

“The summer between my sophomore and junior year something just clicked,” Carder explained.” I was like ‘man, maybe if I started caring more about running this could be something I can really do. Between my junior and senior year, I put in a lot of work and found the right place to really excel.”

Carder took a number of visits to prospective colleges over the last year, most of which were coincidentally in the Midwest, and one of which was to North Central. Carder explained that a second visit to North Central where he stayed overnight and developed a bond with the other members of the team, a group he described thusly, “they’re all about being a family and working together to achieve a common goal,” sealed the deal. “It’s not something I got at the other schools,” he said.

For now, Carder will continue to work and train here in Berthoud, the town he has called home his entire life, and will practice under the standards set forth by Berthoud coach Jordan Jennings, of whom he said, “is the greatest coach I could have ever asked for.”

Moving away will be an adjustment, Carder admitted, but said he expects that the camaraderie of his team will be a tremendous positive factor that will help fill the void of being more than 1,000 miles away from his parents and family. “One of the benefits I have is that since the team is so close-knit and we will be practice every day, I’ll find family with them,” he said.

As a life-long Berthoud resident, Carder said the support the community has provided him is immeasurable. “Something I’ll take with me is, whether they knew it or not they helped me get here, people would wave at us when we’re running or honk or yell ‘good luck’ or things like that,” Carder said. “It’s just taking all of their support with me and knowing that a whole community back home wishing me good luck.”