The murph workout is one of today's Cross Fit workouts. These workouts are held in memory of those who served in the military and made the ultimate sacrifice. Lieutenant Michael Murphy of Patchogue, New York, died while serving in Afghanistan in 2005.

The Time-Limited Murph Workout Entails:
  • A Mile-Long Run
  • 100 Pullups
  • 200 Pushups
  • 300 Squats
  • Add Another Mile To Your Run
The Murph workout is done while wearing a weighted vest or body armor weighing 20 pounds (9 kilograms) (1). In competition, these are the requirements for this WOD, but most Cross Fit boxes allow people to work up to the weighted vest in training.
Murph Workout
Murph Workout

Who was LT Michael Murphy?

Lieutenant Michael Murphy was a member of the SEAL team who died while serving his country in Afghanistan during Operation Red Wings in 2005. Lt. Michael Murphy and Petty Officers Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, and Marcus Luttrell were dropped into the Afghan mountains on June 28th, only to be ambushed by more than fifty militiamen after a local accidentally wandered onto their position and surrendered it. The four soldiers were vastly outnumbered, but they fought valiantly. Lt. Murphy put his own life at risk during the ambush by emerging from cover, spotting a signal, and making a rescue call.


Murph Workout Story

Dr. Joshua Appel was an Air Force pararescueman in 2005. He was the team leader who assisted in the rescue of Marcus Luttrell as well as the recovery of Michael Murphy and Danny Dietz. Two years later, he decided to gather everyone at his CrossFit gym on Memorial Day to do the "Murph" in honor of Michael Murphy and those who have died in active service. They did the workout every year until 2010, when Dr. Appel asked Michael's father, Dan Murphy if he could start a national fundraiser. He then created a website and invited members to participate in the Murph Challenge for a small fee.

The size of the challenge has increased yearly. 7,800 people registered and made donations in 2011. With Mike Sauers' assistance, who founded the clothing company Forged, the number increased to over 10,000 the following year.


When Does the Murph Challenge Take Place

Each year on May 30, the day after Memorial Day, the Murph workout Challenge takes place. On April 1st, the event's online registration opens, allowing you to purchase a T-shirt and join the participating athletes' online community.


How to Train For the Murph Workout

The Murph Challenge is a difficult and time-consuming workout. Most people will need more than an hour to complete this workout. Alex Blenis currently holds the world record time for completing the Murph Challenge, clocking in at just over 22 minutes. To complete the Murph Challenge, you will need both endurance and strength. Studies have shown that one-rep-max strength has little to no relationship with a workout like the Murph.

Murph workout is designed for an athlete with an initially high level of fitness; therefore, for those who are not ready to perform it completely, we recommend reducing the number of repetitions to a feasible number and/or not using a weighted vest.

However, you will complete 100 Pullups in this workout, so you will not only need to break up the reps into smaller sets, but you will also need to be quite skilled at that exercise, especially if you are going to add a 20-pound weighted vest to the equation.

Here are some tips for scaling the workout and training for people of all skill levels.


One-Mile Run-Murph Workout

Lace-up your running shoes, head to the nearest stadium, or get on the treadmill and jog ahead for a distance of 1 km 600 meters. If you are confident in your abilities and consider yourself a high-level athlete, then you can choose to run on rough terrain or set the angle of inclination on a running simulator.

Adjustments: You can use a stationary bike or a rower if running hurts your joints or you want a different challenge.


100 Pullups-Murph Workout

After you have finished running, take a break and get under the horizontal bar. Jump, grab with a straight grip, and start pulling up. A pull-up is scored when the chin touches or crosses the level of the bar. Leaning down, fully straighten your arms. You can pull up with rocking, or as they are correctly called - kipping. Do it 100 times.

Get a good idea in the training of how many reps you can do at once, so you know how to break up the reps. The amount of effort required to complete one repetition of an exercise in order to perform more repetitions without gasping is something to be aware of, according to a 2021 study on pacing for various Cross Fit modalities.

Adjustments: If you are unable to perform pull-ups, you might want to consider fastening a resistance band to the pull-up bar to help you. Additionally, if your shoulders have trouble with overhead movements, you can do body weight rows by attaching a TRX strap or gymnastic rings to the bar.


200 Pushups-Murph Workout

Rest and take your usual push-up position: straighten your body; your head should look straight, legs together. Get down to the floor, touching it with your chest, and return to the starting position. This is 1 time. 199 left

If you can do pushups well, these won't seem too difficult, but keep in mind that your core will be the most sore after these because you did 100 pull-ups and a mile run before.

Adjustments: Modifications: If you need some help with leverage, you can always perform incline push ups. To make the push ups a little bit easier, grab a bench, chair, or jump box and place your hands on that. Lower the height of the aiding device until it is at the floor as you become more adept at this over time.


300 Squats-Murph Workout

After you've finished loading your upper body, rest for as long as you want and get into a classic squat position. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and squat 300 times. At the bottom, remember to put your hands forward for balance and make sure that your knees do not stick out and are at right angles to the floor. Practice some high-rep sets of squats in training and focus on your breath control.

Adjustments: To improve your balance and strength in the exercise, bring back the chair or bench you used to assist with pushups and squat onto it. Lower that object's height over time until you no longer require it, just like you did with the pushups.


Another One-Mile Run-Murph Workout

If you are doing everything right and in the right amount (hopefully you are not hacking in training), then by now your body should be in a hell of pain. If so, then you have tough muscles. But, it's too early to rejoice, you still have 1 more mile of running.

Finished? We congratulate you; you have the strength and health of a real fur seal. Do this work out 3 times a week and you will have steel muscles. Most importantly, do not forget to eat well after training!


How Many Calories Does Murph Workout Burn

It depends heavily on the person and how hard you're working but the average person will burn between 500 and 800 calories during the workout.


What Should I Eat Before A Murph Workout

An iso-caloric approach to your meals in the days before Murph. Simply put, your meals should have equal caloric amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates.


What Do You Drink During Murph Workout

Electrolyte replacement through a low calorie sport drink or packet, water, and some fast absorbing carbohydrates and protein go a long way in helping your body bounce back from a workout like Murph.


What Do You Drink During Murph Workout?

Electrolyte replacement through a low calorie sport drink or packet, water, and some fast absorbing carbohydrates and protein go a long way in helping your body bounce back from a workout like Murph workout.