ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – On Memorial Day, people in the CrossFit community around the country are taking part in the “Murph Challenge,” which is an intense workout all in memory of Lieutenant Michael Murphy, a Navy SEAL who was killed in action in Afghanistan nearly twenty years ago.
Beginning at 8 a.m. on the holiday, over 100 people participated in the challenge at Boomtown CrossFit in Vinton.
“Murph. For me, for the longest time, we’ve been doing it, it’s been a great community,” said Greg Bell, a co-owner of Boomtown CrossFit. “It’s a lot of pain, but it’s brief what people go through when they actually made the ultimate sacrifice.”
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The Murph Challenge begins with a mile run, then 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and ends with another mile. Some wear an army vest to better simulate what those fighting overseas feel every day.
“It was tough. It’s just finding that dark space, finding remembering why you’re out here, remembering why you’re doing it, and just getting in the grind, getting into a group of things, and just keep pushing through. It’ll end eventually, but you gotta get through it,” said Jen Whickham, a participant in the challenge and an Army Veteran…