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Why We Murph

Why does CrossFit love "Murph" and why is it so damn important?..

"Murph" is a Hero WOD named for the late lieutenant Michael Patrick Murphy of the United States Navy SEALs.  Every year on Memorial Day weekend this workout is performed by countless CrossFit gyms and servicemen and women around the world.

Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was killed in Afghanistan in 2005 in the battle made famous recently in the films "MURPH: The Protector" and "Lone Survivor."  In which Lt. Murphy risked his life by exposing himself to enemy fire during an attempt to gain a clear signal to communicate with headquarters after his unit came under fire.  Despite the wounds he endured because of these actions, he returned to his unit’s location after contacting headquarters and continued to fight until he was killed in action. 



The workout "Murph" named in his honor was one of the favorites he would do while on deployment.  The WOD goes...

Run 1 mile
Complete:
     100 Pull-ups
     200 Push-ups
     300 Air Squats
Run 1 mile
 *If possible, perform in a 20lb vest or body armor.

For his actions Lt. Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration.  In his memory, thousands of people around the globe complete this brutal workout every year.

It is truly a great memory, a large group of people honoring a fallen hero.  But it's more than that even.  Let us not forget about all those soldiers out there giving their lives for our freedoms.  As much as the incredible story of one man is important, we all fight through this horrible workout as well as many other Hero WODs year after year to honor all of our soldiers, fallen and serving.  The American men and women around the globe who willingly and without question put themselves in the line of fire to protect those of us at home.

There are many ways we can honor and support them throughout the year, and on Memorial Day we inflict just a little bit of suffering on ourselves.  Hoping that in the grand scheme of things, maybe, just maybe it will put us in their shoes for a second so that we can understand the hardships they face and we can show them that we're willing to suffer (in even just this small way) to honor them and the memories of their greatest.

Thank you veterans and service-people.  Without you we have no idea where we would be and what our world would look like.  On this most beautiful of Memorial Days, we salute you.  Our heroes and our protectors.

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