Memorial Day Murph

JT Scott | 05/28/2017 | 2

I’ve had a lifetime of people, including our mayor just this week, wishing me a “Happy Memorial Day”. It’s not a happy day for those of us who have lost people in our armed conflicts all over the world, for those of us with friends and family buried in Arlington National Cemetery, for those of us who remember why this day exists.

My family has a long history of military service. My brother, my father, both grandfathers, and ancestors as far back as my family can trace served in the armed forces all the way back to revolutionary America. I attended my father’s funeral in Arlington just a few years back.

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for fallen veterans of our armed forces. We, a nation who has never been invaded, sent these volunteers into harms way to enforce our foreign policy on foreign lands. Many of them did not return. Today we remember them. It’s not a happy occasion, but perhaps we can find sweetness in knowing that the way of life we enjoy was paid for with the lives of these soldiers.

CrossFit has always had a strong link with our nation’s armed forces. For as long as I’ve been doing CrossFit, Memorial Day has been marked by “Murph”. This particular workout honors one Medal of Honor (posthumous) recipient from the Afghanistan conflict. His story has been written in books and movies, but CrossFitters mark the day of honor by remembering his passage with one of his favorite workouts and an understanding that our suffering is nothing compared to his sacrifice.

I’m not saying we won’t have a beer afterwards, or enjoy a BBQ this weekend. But for myself on this 9th time I’m doing Murph on Memorial Day, I know I’ll be carrying the memory of those sacrifices with me as I enjoy a day with my loved ones – including all of you.

Murph begins at CFSV on Monday at 10am. All are welcome, this workout doesn’t require a drop-in fee nor count against your membership.

“Murph”

For time:
1 mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 mile Run

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 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.

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