(Pictured Runners: James Estey and Austin Rysavy)

When you have been out and about around town this year, you may have seen the DCC cross country and track runners and coaches out running on Belle Prairie Road several times a week, and yes, even in the dead of winter, all bundled up.  Coach Ben Sandy likes to keep the runners on soft surfaces as much as possible, and Belle Prairie is a perfect road for distance runners.  With gratitude he shared, “I want to thank all the locals who live out on Belle Prairie and drive it every day.  We sure appreciate those drivers who slowed down when they saw us out running.  This prevents us from getting hit by flying rocks, and we sure appreciate not having to brush dirt out of our teeth when we get back to campus from being dusted.  So, thank you to all of those drivers for sharing the road with us and for slowing down for us out on Belle Prairie.  As runners, we have our own language, and one way of showing our appreciation for those who do not dust us is to give the driver a wave.  That is our way of thanking you for not dusting us and hitting us with rocks.”

Since the team has used Belle Prairie for almost a year, the DCC runners wanted to give back a little.  “We noticed a lot of trash along the ditches when we ran, and since we are a part of the community that uses Bell Prairie, we wanted to help keep our community clean as best we can,” said Coach Sandy.  Last Sunday on a cold, wet morning, Austin Rysavy, James Estey, Angie Sandy, and Coach Sandy picked up trash along both sides of the dirt road on Belle Prairie for around three miles, and then drove back to State Street and picked up the trash from the stop sign up to the transportation department turn in.  Coach Sandy said, “We look forward to sharing the roads again next year, and to helping keep Belle Prairie clean again next fall and spring.  Thank you to all Glendive residents for sharing the roads with us.”