Roman Vasserbauer

I was born in 1977 and spent my entire childhood in a foothill village in the northeast of the Czech Republic. In the Sudetenland, surrounded by fortifications against the growing power of Nazi Germany. After my basic military service, I joined the Police of the Czech Republic.

I got into marches at an early age, because my family organized a march around the fortifications. Since I lived in beautiful nature and also accompanied interested people to fortresses, my expeditions around the area were a hobby every weekend. This hobby has remained with me to this day.

In 2014, I also got into so-called military marches and since then I have become not only a collector of kilometers, but also of medals. I like marches that do not have a fixed route, but only checkpoints and it is up to me to find my own way.

I do not like mass events, but the atmosphere of the 4-day march in Nijmegen really impressed me. I conquered it twice in the military category. There is too much asphalt and not enough hills for me. Czech participants say that it is so flat that the highest point of the march is an overpass over the highway. The most visually impressive for me is the Hochgebirgs march in the Austrian Alps, but I still like marches in the Czech Republic and Slovakia the most. I have conquered all the "extreme" marches in the Czech Republic several times and now I just keep fit.

I learned a few things on the marches. Everything is only in your head, but it is better to stretch well before the march and have your shoes broken in and a comfortable backpack. Drink a lot and replenish your energy. Choose the right pace and don't overheat right at the beginning. I walk 30 km in sandals. For longer routes I take military Salomon or Lowa. Helikon clothing and a backpack from Wisport.

And what do I do in my free time besides rucking? I have been organizing marches for 10 years and designing and making march medals.

ROMAN VASSERBAUER - CZECH REPUBLIC