Murph Tradition Marks Memorial Day

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – For the 16th year, Brigade Athletic Club and CrossFit Brigade hosted its annual Memorial Day Murph workout, continuing a local tradition of remembrance.

The Hero workout, known as “Murph,” is named after Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005 during Operation Red Wings. 

Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the mission.  

Before it became known as “Murph,” the workout was called “Body Armor,” a routine Murphy was known to complete. It was later renamed in his honor and became one of CrossFit’s best-known Hero Workouts.  

The traditional Murph workout includes a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats and a final one-mile run, with some participants choosing to wear a weighted vest.  

Murph has since become a Memorial Day tradition at many gyms and military communities, with veterans, active-duty service members, both stateside and deployed, and civilians participating as a way to honor fallen service members. 

At Brigade Athletic Club and CrossFit Brigade, this Memorial Day marked the 16th consecutive year the gym has hosted the Murph workout.