For those in the CrossFit world, such as Fitness Untamed member Emily Schumacher, Memorial Day is an opportunity to partake in an intense workout with an honorable meaning behind it.
Called the Murph Challenge — in memory of Navy Lt. Michael Murphy who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005 — the workout challenges participants to complete the following: a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats and another one-mile run.
“It’s something that people do all across the country on Memorial Day honoring those who have lost their lives saving our country,” said Schumacher.
On Monday, over a hundred participants took part in a local challenge hosted by Fitness Untamed, Mark44 Martial Arts Academy and other local gyms and fitness organizations.
Schumacher said she and other gym members started preparing for the challenge a month prior.
“(It’s) having a good mindset going into it, but also just remembering those who have lost their lives for our freedom here in our country,” she said.
“When it gets tough, remembering those individuals and realizing that just that little bit of pain is just a little bit compared to what they had to do for our country.”
Participant Kayla Dahl was at the gym with her friend, Marlene Herbst Monday morning.
Dahl said Herbst convinced her to take part in the challenge this year.
“We’ve done it in the past. It’s been a couple of years that we’ve done it off and on just at home, so we figured we might as well support (Mark44),” she said.
“When there’s moments like this where there can be good uplifting moments, I think we need to emphasize them a little bit more.”
Inside the gym, participants of all ages cheered each other on from across the room.
Clay Uddley, owner of Mark44, described the environment best.
“It’s awesome. Everybody’s feeding off each other’s energy,” he said.
The event brought together people of all ages, from four to 64.
Participants could choose modifications of the workout depending on their preferences or how advanced they were.
Uddley attributed collaboration as the main factor for why the event has gotten so popular.
“We invited our friends. We invited family … We had a bunch of local gyms, local organizations come together, and that’s why we got the number so big,” he said.