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Memorial Day Murph Challenge

Written By Jerry Teixeira

Memorial Day was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of the Civil War soldiers. Since then, Memorial Day has become an annual federal holiday when our nation comes together on the last Monday of May each year to honor and mourn the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving the United StatesArmed Forces.

One of these military members has inspired a movement that brings people from every walk of life together annually. From young to old, athletes to average joes and celebrities all come together annually on MemorialDay to commemorate U.S. Navy SEAL LT.Michael Murphy.

This annual event is called the Murph Challenge, and it was created in 2014 in honor of Navy LT. Michael Murphy, a SEAL who died in Afghanistan in 2005 in battle with the Taliban. Every year the Murph Challenge has gains popularity and for good reason.

WHY WE DO THE MURPH CHALLENGE?

The origin of The Murph Challenge comes for Navy LT. Michael Murphy who regularly performed this workout as one of his favorite workouts and named it “Body Armor”.

On August 18 of 2005, CrossFit first programmed this workout on their CrossFit official website as part of their Hero WODs or Hero Workouts and called it Murph. The name has stuck ever since. The Murph workout has gone on to be programmed in the CrossFit Games twice now and has even evolved into its own standalone annual event called The Murph Challenge.

The Murch Challenge as we know it today is the official annual fundraiser of the LT. Michael P.Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation, presented by Forged®. It is also one of the primary means of funding the Foundation on an annual basis.

Since 2014, Forged® has raised over $1,000,000+ for the LT.Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation through The Murph Challenge campaign. In 2018, The Murph Challenge Fundraiser provided a vehicle to raised nearly $250,000 to begin construction on the LT. Michael P. Murphy Navy SEALMuseum/Sea Cadet Training Facility in Long Island, NY! In addition to that, and ONLY with such overwhelming support and success, the Foundation was also able to add four additional scholarships in 2018, now providing the opportunity to award 27or more scholarships each and every year!

This unique Memorial Day tradition takes place on the last Monday of May each year and it will take place again throughout the UntiedSates this year on 05.31.2021.

WHAT IS THE MEMORIAL DAY MURPH CHALLENGE?

Murphy created the workout that the challenge is now known for, and it is a challenge, to say the least.

Here is what The Murph Challenge consists of:

1-mile run.
100 pull-ups.
200 pushups.
300 squats.
1-mile run.

Here is a direct excerpt from the CrossFit.com programming. PLEASE READ CLOSELY.

“In memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005.

This workout was one of Mike's favorites and he'd named it "Body Armor". From here on it will be referred to as"Murph" in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

Partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed. Start and finish with a mile run. If you've got a twenty-pound vest or body armor, wear it.”

Originally, Lt. Michael Murphy would perform this workout in his body armor, which is where the original name came from, and the workout was performed straight through. But, when programming on the CFHQ website, “partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed” is the specific standard mentioned. The twenty-pound vest is to replace the original body armor LT. Michael Murphy used during this workout.

WHO IS LT. MICHAEL MURPHY?

LT. Michael Murphy was a Navy SEAL who was thrust into the spotlight after his life had ended. The upstate New York native was part of a four-man team who was a part of Operation Red Wings, which involved scouting Taliban-aligned militants while high in the Afghan mountains on June 28, 2005, when all hell broke loose. The team was spotted by three goat herders, who reported their position to the Taliban, and a fierce firefight ensued.

Murphy and fellow SEALS Matthew Axelson, Danny Dietz, and Marcus Luttrell were outnumbered, wounded, and forced into a ravine. They couldn't get a good signal undercover, so Murphy put his own life on the line, going out into the open to transmit a call for help. He was shot in the back during this time, but finished the call and still made it back to cover with his men.

He eventually died, as did Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, and16 service members who were shot down in a Chinook helicopter while trying to rescue them. Marcus Luttrell was the only survivor, who managed to escape and get help from friendly villagers, who took him in, nursed his many injuries, kept the Taliban away, and eventually got him rescued.

The incident was the single most substantial loss of life for the SEALs since World War II. Murphy, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, was the first Navy sailor to earn the distinction since Vietnam. You can read the full Operation Red Whings story on the Navy website.

Years later a book and eventually a movie was made about OperationRed Wings and the events that took place during the operations. Both the book and movie are called Lone Survivor.

HOW CAN I DO THE MURPH CHALLENGE?

If you’d like to participate in The Murph Challenge, you can go to TheMurphChallenge.com to register. Once you register, you will be pledging to participate in the CrossFitHero WOD “MURPH” (originally named “Body Armor”) and you will also be joining a unique group of participants who pay tribute to LT. Michael P. Murphy while contributing to the LT. Michael P.Murphy memorial Scholarship Foundation that was founded by the Murphy Family.

Beginning on Memorial Day, each registrant will be asked to return to TheMurphChallenge.com and submit their ‘MURPH’ time to compare their achievement with other participants worldwide. All times submitted will be displayed on a worldwide leaderboard found at TheMurphChallenge.com.From that board, the top 5 Men and top 5 Women will be recognized for their efforts.

The ’MURPH’ is more than just a workout, it is a tradition that helps push us, humble us, and dedicate a bit of pain and sweat to honor a man who gave everything he had.

This Memorial Day, before you fire up the BBQ or grab your drink, push yourself and try the Murph Challenge!