Murph with Meaning

The Murph Challenge is a grueling workout named in honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2005. It was one of his favorite workouts, and it’s now performed annually on Memorial Day to honor fallen service members.

The workout includes:

• 1-mile run
• 100 pull-ups
• 200 push-ups
• 300 air squats
• 1-mile run (again)
• Performed in a 20 lb weighted vest

It’s not just a test of physical endurance—it’s a tribute to courage, sacrifice, and resilience.

I’m a head and neck cancer survivor. The journey through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery was one of the hardest battles I’ve ever faced. Even now, I live with the long-term effects of that fight—side effects that many survivors quietly endure.

This year, I’m training to complete the full Murph Challenge by Memorial Day 2026. But I’m not doing it just for me. I’m doing it to raise awareness and funds for cancer research and survivor support programs—so future patients can receive better care, and fewer people have to face the same challenges I did.

Every rep I train for, every mile I run, is tied to a mission:

• To fund research that leads to more effective, less damaging treatments
• To support survivors with resources for recovery, rehabilitation, and quality of life
• To honor those still fighting, and those we’ve lost

This isn’t just a workout. It’s a movement. It’s a way to turn sweat into strength, and strength into support.