Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is a day to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. One of the ways in which people honor these fallen heroes is by participating in the Memorial Day Murph.
The Murph is a workout that was created in honor of Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2005.
The workout consists of:
one-mile run
100 pull-ups
200 push-ups
300 squats
one-mile run
*All done while wearing a 20-pound weight vest or body armor.
Greater Love Hath No Man Than To Lay Down His Life For His Brothers
John 15:13
The workout is not only a way to honor the sacrifice of Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy but also a way to pay tribute to all the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The workout is challenging and requires a lot of physical and mental toughness, just like the challenges that our servicemen and women face every day.
Who is Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy?
Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was a United States Navy SEAL officer who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the war in Afghanistan. He was born on May 7, 1976, in Smithtown, New York, and grew up in Patchogue, New York. Murphy attended Penn State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and was also a member of the ROTC.
In 1999, Murphy joined the United States Navy and went on to become a Navy SEAL. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 as part of Operation Red Wings. On June 28, 2005, Murphy and three other SEALs were on a reconnaissance mission in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan when they were ambushed by Taliban fighters. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Murphy and his team fought back, allowing one of the team members to escape.
During the battle, Murphy was shot several times but continued to fight until he was mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, becoming the first member of the United States Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War.
Read more in detail here: https://murphfoundation.org/lt-michael-p-murphy/
The movie Lone Survivor was based on Marcus Luttrell’s recounting of this true story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Survivor
Why do people participate in the Memorial Day Murph?
People participate in the Memorial Day Murph for a variety of reasons. For some, it is a way to honor the sacrifice of Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy and all the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. For others, it is a way to challenge themselves physically and mentally and push themselves to their limits.
The workout is also a way to build camaraderie and community. Many CrossFit gyms and fitness groups come together to participate in the Murph, creating a sense of unity and shared purpose. The workout is also a way to raise awareness and funds for organizations that support veterans and their families.
It was programmed on the CrossFit website back in 2005: https://www.crossfit.com/workout/2005/08/18#/comments
In one of it’s more memorable moments it was programmed in the CrossFit games in 2016.
How to prepare for the Memorial Day Murph?
Preparing for the Memorial Day Murph requires a lot of hard work and dedication. It is recommended that participants have some experience with CrossFit or other high-intensity workouts before attempting the Murph.
It is also important to gradually build up endurance and strength in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day. This can be achieved through regular training, including running, pull-ups, push-ups, and squats. It is also important to practice wearing a weight vest or body armor during training to get used to the added weight.
Proper nutrition and hydration are also essential for preparing for the Murph. Participants should consume a balanced diet with plenty of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Staying hydrated is also important, as the workout can be intense and lead to sweating and dehydration.
The Memorial Day Murph is a challenging workout that honors the sacrifice of Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy and all the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It requires a lot of physical and mental toughness and is a way for people to push themselves to their limits while building camaraderie and community.
Preparing for the Murph requires hard work and dedication, including regular training, proper nutrition and hydration, and gradually building endurance and strength. By participating in the Memorial Day Murph, we can honor the fallen and show our appreciation for their service and sacrifice.
How tough is the Murph
Determining the level of difficulty of the Murph workout may not be apparent at first glance. It may seem relatively manageable compared to other exercises that require a significant amount of weight or intricate movements. We previously shared an article regarding the most challenging Hero workouts, which you can find here. Surprisingly, “Murph” is the second most popular Hero workout on BTWB, following “DT.”
Completing Murph involves two methods. While beginning and ending with a one-mile run, the 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, and 300 air squats can be done sequentially or partitioned. The latter method is the more commonly utilized approach, with participants breaking down the repetitions into 20 rounds of “Cindy,” consisting of five pull-ups, ten push-ups, and 15 air squats. If push-ups prove to be particularly challenging, a partitioned approach that alternates between push-ups and air squats can be adopted. This method allows individuals to work on other movements while simultaneously allowing their push-ups to rest. However, the un-partitioned approach, while more challenging, can result in prolonged rest periods between sets of push-ups.
Furthermore, participants can choose to wear a weight vest or not during the workout. While the prescribed method recommends the use of a vest, individuals who do not have access to one can still participate without it. The completion times differ significantly between the two options, with an average completion time of approximately 49 minutes for men and 53 minutes for women when performing the exercise without a weight vest.
If you would like to put some monetary support and/or purchase a T-shirt to go along with your workout this year, we align with The Murph Challenge.