Murph workout returns as Memorial Day ritual

Memorial Day weekend brought back the Murph workout at gyms, boot camps and community events across the United States, with organizers framing it as a public act of remembrance for Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy. CrossFit and the official Murph Challenge describe the workout as a Memorial Day tradition tied to Murphy’s legacy and to fundraising for the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. In Peoria, Illinois, and Blacksburg, Virginia, local groups turned the workout into public events supporting veterans. The format remained the same one many athletes know by name: a run, high-volume bodyweight work, and another run to finish. ### Who was Lt. Michael Murphy, and why is this workout tied to Memorial Day? CrossFit says Murph honors U.S. Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, who was killed in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. The company says the workout was introduced as a CrossFit Hero workout on Aug. 18, 2005, and is now programmed by thousands of CrossFit gyms each Memorial Day. The official Murph Challenge site says the event is the annual fundraiser for the LT. Michael P. (crossfit.com) Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. The site says Forged has raised more than $2.25 million for the foundation since 2014. ### What exactly is the Murph workout people were doing this weekend? CrossFit lists the prescribed version as a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats and a final 1-mile run, done for time. The company says athletes may partition the middle repetitions as desired, and those using the workout “Rx’d” can wear a 14/20-pound vest or body armor. (crossfit.com) The official Murph Challenge site lists the same sequence for May 25, 2026. (themurphchallenge.com) CrossFit also publishes intermediate and beginner versions, including reduced-volume and modified-movement options, which shows the workout is often scaled for newer participants. ### How did local communities turn Murph into public events this year? Peoria, Illinois, held its fourth annual Murph Challenge on May 23 at The House Barbell Club, according to WMBD. (crossfit.com) The station reported that The Resilience Project hosted the event and expected about 75 participants, with proceeds going back into programs that support local veterans. Ben Deig of The Resilience Project told WMBD the goal was to give people “an opportunity for us all to kind of suffer together in remembrance” of Memorial Day and those who “gave the ultimate sacrifice.” WMBD reported that the nonprofit was started by local Marine veterans and focuses on helping veterans transition into everyday life and on suicide prevention. (themurphchallenge.com) Blacksburg Fit Body Boot Camp also hosted a Murph Challenge event over the holiday weekend, according to local reporting cited in search results from WDBJ coverage. (centralillinoisproud.com) The event was described as a fundraiser honoring Murphy and other fallen service members. ### Is Murph mainly a CrossFit workout or a broader Memorial Day ritual now? CrossFit says thousands of its gyms program Murph each year on Memorial Day, but the official challenge site describes it as taking place throughout the United States. (centralillinoisproud.com) Local coverage from Peoria shows the format extending beyond a single gym class into a nonprofit-backed public fundraiser. The official challenge branding also points to a national structure around what remains a local event in many places. (newsbreak.com) The Murph Challenge site lists official host registration, training plans and a worldwide leaderboard for 2026 participants. ### What happens next for people joining the 2026 challenge? May 25, 2026, is the listed date for the official Murph Challenge, according to the event’s website. The site says participants can register, complete the workout and post a time to the 2026 worldwide leaderboard, and it lists June 28, 2026 — the 21st anniversary of Operation Red Wings — as a second official time challenge date. (crossfit.com) (themurphchallenge.com)