“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”

George Orwell

Memorial Day "Murph" Challenge

The Memorial Day "Murph" Challenge is a fitness competition to benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (www.specialops.org).  SOWF provides college scholarship grants, not loans, to surviving children of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel killed in combat or training missions.  The SOWF also provides immediate financial assistance to special operations personnel severely wounded in the global war on terror.  The SOWF fills an important void as the people who are benefiting from it are George Orwell’s rough men – The ones who are out there at the really sharp end.  It is their kids that use this fund and we can think of no one more deserving.

If you are not aware the Special Operations community is made up of: Rangers, Green Berets, Navy Seals, Air Force Pararescue Jumpers, USMC Force Recon, etc.  These guys have been on the front lines of the war on terror from day one.  No matter how you feel about the war these are some of the most dedicated people in the world.  You don’t hear much about what they do, and they prefer it that way.  These are the true "silient professionals".  It is not only time that we say “Thanks” – we must also give them our support.

The Event

There is only one event: “Murph”:

For time:

1 mile Run

100 Pull-ups

200 Push-ups

300 Squats

1 mile Run

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.

Lt. Michael Murphy 

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 and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

Competition Categories:

Advanced

Full "Murph" workout as it is written.  Those that compete at the Advanced level while wearing the weighted vest will be eligible to win the "grand prize" if they finish in 45 minutes or less.  

Intermediate

800 meter run

50 Pull Ups

100 Push Ups

150 Squats

800 meter run

No scaling, or substitutions allowed.  Although you can partition the pull ups, pushups and squats any way you want you will not be able to use any assistance devices such as bands, or do push ups from the knees.  If you need to scale it down you should compete at the beginner level. 

Beginner 

800 meter run

25 Pull Ups or 50 Jumping Pull Ups

50 Push Ups or 75 Push Up "Negatives" or Push Ups from the knees

100 Squats 

800 meter run

 
Prizes 

Medals will be awarded to al 1st place winners in each category (Men's & Women's).  Awards for the Advanced category will be handed out at 11:30 am, the Intermediate will be handed out at 12:00 pm, and the Beginner's will be handed out at 1:00 PM.

Food 

Jason's Deli will cater around 12:00 PM.  All competitors will have their food covered by their event fee.

Registration 

Registration will only be available online.  All registrants are required to pick up their competiton packet at CrossFit Plano on Thursday, May 22, 2008 between the hours of 7 am and 11 am and between 4 pm and 8 pm.

T-Shirts 

All registrants who sign up prior to May 19 will receive a "Murph Challenge" T-Shirt.