KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — There are several workout challenges that come around every year that honor fallen servicemembers.
One of them being the “The Murph” challenge. It’s a four-circuit workout that pays homage to a fallen Navy Seal. Gyms across the country, including here in Knoxville, hosted the workout on Memorial Day.
“It’s a one-mile run, followed by 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats and finish it off with another mile run at the end,” said Chip Gibson, the owner and operator of F45 Training. “It’s very difficult.”
The Murph is in honor of a fallen U.S. Navy Seal.
“This particular workout is considered the hardest. It’s named after Lt. Michael Murphy, who was a Navy Seal killed in Afghanistan,” said Gibson. “It was one of his favorite workouts.”
Navy Lt. Murphy was killed in 2005 when he was 29 years old during Operation Red Wings, a reconnaissance operation in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan that involved a team of four Navy SEALs. Three were killed, and so were around 35 Taliban fighters, according to a Navy SEAL Museum. Lt. Murphy was among them.
In October 2007, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his sacrifice.
The Murph workout paid tribute to his life and legacy and is a homage to all servicemembers who lost their lives.
“What better way to remember a fallen soldier, than to do one of the hardest workouts you can do in remembrance of them?" said Gibson.