Dr. Josip is back for 2025 and he is here to help you achieve your goals. 

We have a special message to share with you from Dr. Josip about why he volunteers his time at Kidney March and how he can help you this year. Dr. Josip has been an integral part of our community and we are so thankful for his support. 

(Dr. Josip and Dr. Lisa)

Dear Members of the Kidney March Community,

I want to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Josip Batinić. I am an exercise physiologist, chiropractor, and Clinic Director of Momentum Health National Spine & Wellness in Calgary.

I have had the privilege of being involved with the Kidney March for four years. My engagement began when a patient who had participated in several Kidney March events shared her experiences regarding back pain during the March. She desired my support during the event, noting that no chiropractic was available. This prompted me to reach out to the Kidney March team, and after a series of meetings, I was invited to join the event to provide training support and treatment for the Marchers.

Whether you are a seasoned participant or preparing for your first Kidney March, I would like to share several insights that may enhance your training and readiness for the event in whatever shape or form it takes for you this year.

Kidney March involves a lot of walking over long distances, totaling 100 kilometers. It represents a considerable physical challenge for most of us! This undertaking will test your body, particularly your ability to sustain a consistent walking routine. Your bones, joints, and muscles will endure repeated action throughout the event and leading up to it.

To provide some context, it may be helpful to understand how muscles and joints function. Muscles facilitate movement by pulling on bones through tendons, requiring adequate fuel and hydration for optimal performance. Joints, the spaces between bones, allow for mobility. Key joints utilized during the March include the ankles, knees, hips, and various spinal segments within the lower back.

Undertaking a new challenge that involves walking longer distances than you are accustomed to can subject these muscles, bones and joints to significant stress, which may result in discomfort and stiffness. Such discomfort can be exacerbated when traversing uneven terrain, such as the side of a road with a slight incline. This disparity can lead to imbalances, causing one side of the body to exert more effort or function differently.

As a chiropractor, I focus on identifying these imbalances. Much of my work with Kidney March participants involves maintaining pelvic and hip alignment to ensure that the lower body functions in unison. Achieving balance in the lower body can effectively prevent injuries during your training walks, your initial 85 kilometres, and your final 15 kilometres on the Kidney March route.

To support healthy movement, I recommend incorporating stretching into your daily training routine, utilizing foam rollers or massage balls to release tension, and considering acupuncture or regular massage therapy. Addressing muscle and joint tension will improve your overall mobility.

Whether you are new to long-distance walking and hoping to build up your strength, or you are already an active person planning to take on a more rigorous challenge this year, I am here to help.

I encourage all participants to consistently stretch and seek consultations with physiotherapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists. Such preventative measures can minimize the risk of injury and facilitate the successful completion of every step of your personal 100-kilometrte journey.

Should any Kidney March participants wish to discuss their situations further, please do not hesitate to book online here, or contact my office at 403-270-7252. Say you are doing Kidney March and my staff can arrange a phone consultation to explore your needs. Furthermore, I invite all Kidney Marchers to visit my office for a complimentary consultation. This will allow me to understand your health history better, enabling me to provide more effective care during the event.

In closing, I sincerely thank the entire Kidney March community for the opportunity to contribute to your experience. See you at Kidney March EXPO this April and throughout this years Kidney March!

Kind regards,

Dr. Josip Batinić

Exercise Physiologist and Chiropractor
Clinic Director, Momentum Health National Spine & Wellness

Meet Josip in this intro video from last year. He is offering the same deal for Marchers this year!
A complimentary biomechanical assessment!

2024  Cheering Stations & Ceremonies

Kidney March is the experience of a lifetime and maybe the biggest challenge you’ve ever undertaken deserves a lot of celebration! 

During Kidney March, safety is our top priority.  Support is also very important to us, so we want to make sure your family and friends have opportunities to cheer you on!  There are specific locations each day where friends and family can safely park and greet you:

Day One

• 7:00 am sharp, Opening Ceremony at Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society, Millarville Racetrack: 306097 192 Street, Millarville, AB T0L 1K0 
• 9:30 am – 1:00 pm, Diamond Valley lunch stop,  Royalite Millennium Park: approximately 105 Valley Trail NE, Turner Valley, AB T0L 2A0

Day Two

• 11:30 am – 2:00 pm, Kananaskis lunch stop, Elbow Valley Visitors’ Information Centre: 2 AB-66, Bragg Creek, AB T0L 0K0 (Alberta Parks Kananaskis Conservation Pass Required) 
  

Day Three 

• 10:30 am – 1:30 pm, Lunch Stop Springbank Park for All Seasons, 32224A Springbank Road, Calgary AB, T3Z 2L9. Please park in front of the Park for All seasons building in the main parking lot. Then  you must walk through the middle of the Park for All Seasons building to the white domed outdoor arena behind.  Link to Google map for Parking 
• 3:00 pm, Marchers and Crew complete their final kilometres and walk into the Closing Ceremony at WinSport Canada Olympic Park, in the Festival Tent, 88 Canada Olympic Rd SW, Calgary AB 
  **bottom of the hill only**  The hill road will be closed. Please enter Winsport from Canada Olympic Drive SW and Park in the main parking lot behind the Sports Hall of Fame. Link to Google directions for Parking

Please use the designated cheering stations only.
For safety reasons, we cannot allow spontaneous stops along the route or have family and friends joining the walk. Family and friends are encouraged to find their Marchers and Crew only at the cheering stations listed.
**Guests or visitors are not permitted at Kidney March Camp**