This weekend, I did the CrossFit Hero WOD called Murph. Every Memorial Day weekend, CrossFit boxes all across the United States do this grueling workout in honor of Lt. Michael Murphy, a man who sacrificed his life while in service. This WOD was his favorite. As a Wyoming site says, “Murph Challenge Recognizes Memorial Day With Exercise.”
Although Lt. Murphy is no longer with us, we remember his actions on Memorial Day with the Murph workout. The Murph Challenge is a physical way to remember and honor those who have served, are serving, and will serve.
Murph
1-mile run
100 pull-ups
200 push-ups
300 air squats
1-mile run
As I started out on the first mile run, I turned over thoughts about sacrifice. What does sacrifice look like? Obviously, on Memorial Day, we honor the men and women who have laid down their lives so that we can live in the freedom we enjoy today.
“Put your life on the line for your friends.” – John 15:13, The Message.
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that when we think “sacrifice”…we think of the ultimate sacrifice of death on the behalf of others.
And that truly requires a pause. A pause of respect that can’t really be given when you’re reading a blog post. But let’s say it is exists, okay? Right here.
And yet, what else is sacrifice?
While the workout of Murph is certainly not a true sacrifice, it does mean a long time of suffering. And I don’t like to suffer. The workout takes me almost a full hour of constant movement. While I’m suffering through the many reps and working on my positive self-talk (“come on, girl, you can do this.”), it’s the perfect time to consider sacrifice.
Anything worth doing requires sacrifice. You can’t have it all. You have to choose what’s most important to you, and your “yes” will be a “no” to something else. And that’s okay.
I love Murph, though, because I love having an active way to remember–not just a moment of silence, but many moments of lungs burning with fresh air, muscles zinging, and hands stinging.
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