The Tail-Wind 50K

A runners report by Jim Linville

Thanksgiving night the temperature had dropped to 10 degrees. That next day the temperature never rebounded to above freezing. In the shadow of the wind mills of the Bluegrass Ridge Wind Farm Jim Linville stepped up to the starting line. It was 8:00 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving, November 23, 2007. The co-director, David Waltemath, called the start of the event. This days run would be 5 laps of a 10k course which Waltemath has used for the King City Chamber Fun Run. The course is a scenic tour that runs from the school house north around the reservoir, then around a country block at the northeast corner of town and back to the school. From the rolling hills the wind mills are always on the horizon. The majestic giants represent man's efforts to gain nature's assistance in fueling the age of technology. Donald Linville taught math and science at King City high school until his death in 1971. He had graduated from high school in Breckenridge, Missouri. He gained his masters in the science of education from Central Missouri State University. These three events in the life of Don Linville is why the Linville family offers a memorial scholarship to a graduate of King City or Breckenridge that can make the track team or cross country team at the University of Central Missouri. The Linville family wants to thank the race directors, Barbara Bulla and David Waltemath. They also want to thank Claudia Christianson of the University of Central Missouri for her efforts on the Don Linville Memorial Scholarship. Most of all, from everyone previously mentioned, a heart felt expression of gratitude for all of those friends of Donald Linville that made the donations of $635 to this event. With that level of support we will certainly bring the Tail-Wind 50k back for a sequel in 2008.