Memorial Day Murph Challenge with CrossFit Maximus

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – On Memorial Day people honor those who lost their lives in different ways. Some walk some run, some do a full blown workout.

The Murph Challenge is just that, a challenge.

“It’s in honor of LT. Michael Murphy, a seal that was killed in Afghanistan,” Urekew said.

David Urekew, a veteran himself, has been participating in the Murph Challenge since 2014.

“We shared a moment of silence before it started just in remembrance of him and all the others who paid that ultimate sacrifice,” Urekew said.

He says it’s important to honor those who lost their lives serving.

“It’s kind of a weird taboo thing that happens on Memorial Day, people always say “Thank you for your service,” but that’s Veterans Day. I don’t want to hear that and what I like to say is “We never forget,”” Urekew said.

He says his CrossFit family gathered together in that spirit, to never forget.

CrossFit Maximus Coach Chris Sweat says the Murph Challenge is a CrossFit tradition across the nation.

“CrossFit is big in the military and public service communities. It’s a great style of workout for that kind of work in particular and so there’s a natural connection there between public service, military, law enforcement, and CrossFit,” Sweat said.

The workout is supposed to be done in body armor or a 20 pound vest.

“It was one of his workouts. It was something he did and it’s a mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats, and a mile run,” Sweat said.

But he says because of the difficulty of the workout, they scale it down to what people need.

“This is something you do in honor of somebody so you get your head in the right space and keep that in mind as you’re moving through this. Those people died so that we would have the ability to do this and as well as everything else,” Sweat said.