Smart Sport athletes were very active in June, at race distances spanning 800 meters to 100 miles!

At the Ontario Masters Championships on June 5, Canadian team member Rita Quibell won the 800m and 1500m, and in the process broke a 23 year-old meet record in the 800m. Two weeks later, she won the 800m and 1500m at the Canadian Masters Championships. On her way to the win in the 1500m, her 5:17.97 broke a 22 year-old meet record. These events will prepare her for the World Masters Athletics Championships in Sacramento, California in July.

At the other end of the running spectrum, Josh Kennedy returned to California for his second attempt at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. In 2002, he completed the event in 29:08. This year, his time was 23:09. For his efforts, he received the coveted "Silver Belt Buckle". Josh was featured in this article after the event concluded. There was one significant error in the article – Josh did in fact complete the 2002 event!

The fine performances continued in the world of triathlon. At the Sweetwater Sprint Triathlon, Scott Burris finished 11th overall (3rd in age group) with a time of 1:17:32. This year's Buffalo Springs Lake Half Ironman in Lubbock, Texas was a hot one, with temperatures over 105 degrees and winds over 30 mph. A convection oven might have been a better place to hold a race! But Burris finished BSLT in a time of 5:43:27 - a 31 minute personal best! Pete Carton made a triumphant return to the world of long distance triathlons with a fine 6:35:17. Greg Hogan of Lubbock, who has completed this event more than just about anyone on the planet, put in a 6:07:18 on one of the most difficult days, condition-wise, that he has experienced on the BSLT course.

Most of the country is gearing up for some great summer weather, but in the South, we are getting ready to ease off on the runs and amp up the triathlons. But regardless of the time of year, the RunSmart Level One clinics are still being offered. May 1 was the second offering this year in Austin. Physical therapists can now get 3.5 hours of CCU for attending this program.

Josh Kennedy made yet another appearance at the Strolling Jim 40 Mile Run. His time of 6:40:33.2 placed him 37th overall. A good day, indeed!

May was also the inaugural Ironman Texas in the Woodlands, and Smart Sport athletes put in fine performances on a very hot day in east Texas. Dorian and Freddy Ramirez of Corpus Christi, Texas completed their third Ironman. Dorian's time was 14:46:48, and Freddy's time was 16:07:49. As many will tell you, a day at Ironman can present many different scenarios, and a finish is always an incredible result. Congratulations to Dorian and Freddy for surviving a hot day in Texas!

Spring has arrived, and with it a number of performances by Smart Sport athletes.

Coach Besselink presented a transition clinic for the University of Texas Triathlon Club team members prior to their departure for USAT Collegiate Nationals in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Michaela Wright was the top UT female with a time of 3:00:54, and Chris Smith was the top UT male with a time of 2:21:31. The team finished 47th overall out of 80 in only their second team appearance at Nationals. Event photos can be found here.

In other triathlon news, Dorian Ramirez finished the hot and windy Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas in a time of 6:34:13. She finished 33rd in her age group.

Smart Sport athletes were also running through the hills of Arkansas and the streets of Austin. Josh Kennedy competed in the Ouachita Trail 50 Mile run. He finished an incredible 18th overall in a time of 10:24:57. This event was in preparation for Kennedy's assault on the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run in June. Debbie Horne shattered her 5K personal best by running 24:44 at the Texas Round-Up. This was a 5:00 improvement!

June has been a very exciting month for SSI athletes. They have been racing at Ironman Coeur d'Alene, the Buffalo Springs Lake half Ironman, and the Ontario Masters Championships. Here's the lowdown of this month's results:

At Ironman CDA, Rachel Robbins and Christine Jones completed their first Ironman and became members of the Ironman family. Christine's time was 14:06:41, and Rachel's time was 15:38:01. Also of note are the Barretts - Carrie and Shawn - who were interviewed on a recent episode of "Consumer's Guide To Health". Carrie finished in 11:46:29, while Shawn completed his first Ironman in 14:03:17.

Out in Lubbock, more great results appeared at the 20th annual Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 triathlon. Greg Hogan led the way with a 5:23 - good for 14th place in his age group. This put Greg in a select group of athletes, having completed BSLT a total of 10 times! James Baumann set a personal best 5:45. IronTexans Dorian and Freddy Ramirez both completed their first BSLT - Dorian finishing in 7:03, and Freddy (after losing a significant amount of time surviving two flats on the bike) finishing in 8:09. As many of you know, a finish at BSLT is something special!

And last but not least, SSI athlete (of the Newmarket Huskies TC) Rita Quibell competed in the women's 1500m at the Ontario Masters Track And Field Championships. Rita was competing in the W50 division. Her time of 5:21.55 won her age group and was an age-rated performance of 89.4%! She followed this up with a 5:20.26 at the York University Twilight meet a week later, making her the number one ranked athlete in her age group. Rita will race in the Canadian Masters Championships later this month.

Photos can be found in the Gallery.

Congratulations to everyone!

I am pleased to announce that Smart Sport International is officially a member of the International network of Certified McKenzie Clinics. What does this mean? To put it in perspective, SSI is now one of 67 clinics in the world that are a part of this network. Along with this, there are approximately 300 practitioners worldwide that attained the highest level of training in the McKenzie Method.

This method of musculoskeletal assessment and treatment is applicable to not only back and neck pain - the same principles are utilized for all the other joints as well!

Call us to find out more about the McKenzie Method and how it can help assist you in your injury recovery.