Quincy YMCA hosts Murph or 5k Ruck

The Quincy YMCA is using a Memorial Day fitness tradition to raise money for veterans in its own community. The organization said it will hold a “Murph or 5K Honor Ruck” on Monday, May 25, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, with proceeds going to the home. (khqa.com) The event ties a nationally recognized workout to a local fundraising effort. Participants can choose either the Murph workout or a 5-kilometer ruck, according to local coverage and the YMCA’s event promotion. (muddyrivernews.com) Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 8:30 a.m., and organizers said both options are open to a range of fitness levels. (mensjournal.com) ### What exactly is Quincy YMCA putting on? The Quincy Family YMCA said the Memorial Day event will be held at the Illinois Veterans Home, a long-term care facility on Quincy’s north side. KHQA reported Wednesday that the YMCA is “racing to raise funds” for the home through the Murph or 5K Honor Ruck. (khqa.com) Muddy River News reported on April 27 that the event will let participants choose between the Murph workout and a 3.1-mile Honor Ruck along a trail route. The outlet said scaled and beginner-friendly options will be available. ### What is the Murph workout people keep referring to? (muddyrivernews.com) Men’s Journal reported on May 19 that Murph is a Memorial Day workout performed widely across the fitness community and named for Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy. The standard version includes a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats and a final one-mile run, often with a weighted vest. (khqa.com) The magazine said the workout was originally called “Body Armor” by Murphy himself before it became known as Murph after his death. Men’s Journal reported that Murphy was killed in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005, and was later awarded the Medal of Honor. (muddyrivernews.com) ### Why is the Illinois Veterans Home the beneficiary? The Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy describes itself as the largest and oldest of the state’s four veterans homes. The facility says nearly 450 members live there today on a 210-acre campus with more than 25 buildings. The home says it provides long-term care for veterans and their spouses, including domiciliary, intermediate and skilled care. Quincy YMCA said the fundraiser is intended to honor service members while directing money to that local institution. (mensjournal.com) ### Is this just happening in Quincy? DEUCE Gym in Venice, California, has also invited the public to a Memorial Day Murph event at 110 Lincoln Boulevard, according to posts surfaced in search results. CrossFit Forte in Nashville posted that its annual Murph plan includes an 8 a.m. workout on Memorial Day, and earlier scheduling posts indicated some gyms also use alternate weekend dates. (mensjournal.com) The spread of those listings matches Men’s Journal’s description of Murph as a workout performed globally every Memorial Day. (quincyivh.org) In Quincy, the YMCA is attaching that broader tradition to a named local beneficiary rather than a gym-only event. ### What happens next in Quincy? Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 25, this year, and the Quincy event is scheduled for that morning at the Illinois Veterans Home. The Quincy Family YMCA’s website lists the organization’s local programming, while KHQA and Muddy River News have published event details ahead of the fundraiser. (muddyrivernews.com) (mensjournal.com) (deucegym.com)