Every year around Memorial Day, one question always comes up:
“Why does everyone make such a big deal about Murph?”
Because it’s not just a workout.
It’s a tradition. A test. And most importantly—a tribute.
Murph is named after Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005, during Operation Red Wings.
During the mission, Murphy knowingly exposed himself to enemy fire to make a call for backup—an act that ultimately cost him his life but helped save his team. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor.
Before it became known as “Murph,” this workout was one of his favorites.
He called it “Body Armor.”
For time:
The Rx version is completed wearing a 20/14 lb vest.
On paper, it’s a long grind.
But once you understand the meaning behind it, it becomes something more.
We don’t do Murph to chase a PR.
We don’t do it to prove how tough we are.
We do it for something bigger.
Memorial Day is more than a long weekend. It’s a time to honor those who gave their lives in service.
Murph gives us a way to pause and reflect—through action.
Murph is challenging by design.
At some point, it gets uncomfortable. That’s where the shift happens.
The workout stops being about you—and becomes about who you’re honoring.
Murph brings out something different.
You’ll see:
It’s one of the clearest reminders that this is more than just a gym.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that you need to be “ready.”
You don’t.
Murph can be scaled in many ways:
The goal isn’t to do it Rx.
The goal is to take part.
