Ruck BEAST Squad features interviews with members of the community to highlight their lives, training, gear, and insight. Hopefully as you read through this you’ll be able to take away advice that will help you train better and perform better that upcoming events. In this issue of Ruck BEAST Squad we get to hear from Victor Bohm!
Q: Tell us a little about yourself to get us started.
A: My name is Victor Bohm. Born in Houston, TX, raised in New Mexico and grew up in Maine.
Joined the US Air Force in 2001. I live in NYC and work to help our nation’s veterans better. And I
ruck, train and enjoy traveling and meeting people.
Q: Where did your GORUCK journey start? What was your first event? What stands out from that event?
A: My first GORUCK event was the NYC 50 Mile Star Course. My team and I came in 5th place out of
30+ Teams but most of all we ended up finishing with 54 miles in 13 hours. We smashed the event. I
remember how emotional I felt when I crossed the finish line. What a confidence boost!
Q: What was your most recent event or events. What would you like to tell us about it / them?
A: My most recent event was the Houston Trailblazers Heavy event. The entire city was without
water. I was the only one from NYC. I trained in 10 – 20 degree weather and when the sun came up
the weather went from 20 degrees to the low 60s. I didn’t train for that and ended up losing control
of my electrolytes and therfore I came down woth a slight case of Rhabdo. Had a sugar feast and it
all went away.
Q: Favorite Ruck?
A: My favorite ruck has to be when I participated in a custom Heavy in the Pennsylvania section of
the Appalachian train. We did nav, evasion, fire in wet conditions, drank pine needle juice and
rucked through some ankle breaking rocky terrain but damn did we have a blast. This is also when
we formed Team Silver Fox.
Q: Proudest accomplishment as a GRT?
A: My proudest accomplishment as a GRT has to be when my team of 8 finished the Marines Heavy
event in San Diego in November of 2020. I don’t care who you think you are, those events will
humble you in so many ways.
Q: How many events have you done? What’s your favorite event or type of event? Why?
A: I’ve completed about 15 + events.
Q: Why do you continue to do events? What keeps you coming back?
A: I enjoy pushing myself. I’m a goal setter so GORUCK works well with me. The people and stories
are awesome. The sense of community is one of the best parts. As a fellow weirdo I feel like I
belong.
Q: How do you train for events?
A: I work hard everyday. For events, I change my diet, my sleeping habits and my exercise to all
support the event. If it doesn’t add to the success of event completion, I don’t do it.
Q: Best Rucking and / or GORUCK event advice you have gotten?
A: When you feel low, like in a dark place during an event, don’t quit, wait a few minutes, you will be
right back in top. Also, train with the food you will eat on the event. Let any surprises come from the
Cadre not you.
Q: Other than packing list items, what is a must have in your ruck for events?
A: Chewies. They make everything better.
Q: A book or a few that have impacted your life? Why?
A: Aristotle: Politics. He writes that slavery is a state of mind. Basically what I took from that part is
that your mind is powerful and you can use that power to overcome pretty much anything.
Q: What other hobbies do you have?
A: I like traveling, scuba diving and being a New Yorker.
Q: What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve made in the past 12 months.
A: A small hand scale to help track the weight of my ruck as I move through my training.
Q: How has rucking changed or improved your life?
A: Rucking has helped me deal with depression and anxiety and allows me time to decompress while
being active.
Q: How do you recruit new people to ruck, or do events with you?
A: I invite folks to ruck with me and I take them on the coolest routes I have in NYC. You know, the
ones the NYC GORUCK events don’t take you on.
Q: Best Beer to drink after a ruck?
A: Budweiser
Q: Advice you would give to someone before their 1st Light?
A: Have fun. Meet people. Showing up is the hardest part. Once you show up, ask questions.
Hydrate. Give someone a high five and hydrate. Have fun. Oh and hydrate.
Q: Advice you’d give to someone before their 1st Tough?
A: You have 12 hours. Plan for 12 hours. Show up as a team member and plan on carrying weight.
Have fun and hydrate.
Q: If you get overwhelmed during an event how do you refocus on the task at hand?
A: Stop. Breathe. Hydrate. Look at the people to your left and your right. Those people need you. Do
what you are doing for them.
Q: What’s the next event or events on your calendar?
A: Custom Sleepy Hollow T, Recon HTB…Eyeing some big 2022 events.
Q: Any parting shots? Things the community needs to know?
A: I love the GORUCK community. You all inspire me to be better everyday. Also, don’t show up to a
Heavy event if you have never carried a 120# SB and expect not to carry it. Hahaha but really
though.
If you know someone (or are someone) who would be a good fit for an upcoming episode of Ruck BEAST Squad please reach out to Derek Hill (derekhill1 AT gmail DOT com).
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