CrossFit holds Murph events May 23

CrossFit affiliates, military installations and local fitness groups held Murph events across the United States on May 23, extending one of the most recognizable Memorial Day weekend rituals beyond the gym floor. The workout honors Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy, who was killed in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005, and later received the Medal of Honor, according to CrossFit and local event organizers. The standard version remains a mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 air squats and another mile run, often completed wearing a 20-pound vest. Organizers in Illinois and Arizona said this year’s events also doubled as fundraisers or community observances for veterans. ### Why was Murph showing up in so many places on May 23? May 23 was the date many local groups chose to stage Murph ahead of Memorial Day itself, with events appearing at civilian gyms, nonprofit gatherings and military facilities. FOX’s local report described Murph as a national Memorial Day tribute that has spread from a CrossFit hero workout to a broader observance taken on by service members, gym communities and civilians. (crossfit.com) CrossFit said thousands of people around the world now complete the workout each year as part of that tradition. Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona listed its Murph Challenge for 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on May 23 at the base Fitness Center. KYMA reported the event was held in honor of Murphy and other fallen veterans. A separate U.S. Army MWR event listing described the challenge as a way to “sweat for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.” (fox13news.com) ### What exactly do participants do in a Murph workout? The workout’s standard format is fixed enough that many local reports described it in nearly identical terms: a 1-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats and a final 1-mile run. FOX’s explainer said many participants wear a 20-pound weighted vest or body armor if possible, preserving the format associated with Murphy’s original workout. CrossFit’s workout page also publishes scaled and beginner versions for athletes who do not perform the full volume. (kyma.com) CrossFit traces the workout to a session Murphy called “Body Armor,” later renamed “Murph” after his death. The company says the workout was introduced as a CrossFit Hero workout in August 2005. ### How did Peoria turn the workout into a veterans fundraiser? Peoria, Illinois, hosted a Murph event through The Resilience Project, which local coverage said was the group’s fourth annual challenge. (fox13news.com) Yahoo, citing Central Illinois Proud reporting, said proceeds from the event go back into programs supporting local veterans. The local station said participants pushed through the workout to support veterans while honoring fallen service members. (crossfit.com) Earlier reporting by the same outlet said The Resilience Project was founded by combat veterans and uses the Memorial Day weekend event to help veterans transition into civilian life. That report said the group’s stated goal was to reduce veteran suicide in the Peoria area. ### Why is Lt. (yahoo.com) Michael Murphy central to the event? Lt. Michael Murphy is the namesake of the workout and the reason many organizers frame the event as an act of remembrance rather than only a fitness test. FOX’s report said Murphy was killed in Afghanistan in 2005 after exposing himself to enemy fire while calling for help for his team. CrossFit’s account similarly ties the workout to Murphy’s life, service and death during Operation Red Wings. (centralillinoisproud.com) The official Murph Challenge website says its annual event is the fundraiser for the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. That site invites participants worldwide to register, post times and host local events under the challenge banner. ### Where does the event go from here this weekend? Memorial Day falls on May 25 this year, and CrossFit said Murph remains one of its central annual Hero workouts for that holiday weekend. (fox13news.com) The Murph Challenge website continued taking registrations and posting host information on May 24, while local organizers in places such as Peoria and Yuma had already completed their May 23 events. (crossfit.com) (themurphchallenge.com)