Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, nicknamed “The Protector” for the multiple occasions he fought to protect the disadvantaged during his youth, was an avid CrossFitter. His favorite workout, one he called “Body Armour,” was an assault on your strength and endurance: While wearing a 20 lb weighted vest (or body armor), it is a one-mile run followed by 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups and 300 squats, followed by another mile; done for time. As a Navy SEAL, this exercise kept Lt. Murphy ready for action. However, it wasn’t physical strength that made “Murph” exceptional; more than anything, it was his heart. On June 28th, 2005 Lieutenant Murphy and his fellow SEALs were surrounded by Taliban fighters with nowhere to turn. During the middle of the firefight, Lt. Murphy stepped into the clearing to get a clear signal for calling in reinforcements. As he called for backup, he was struck multiple times by enemy fire -- but he still managed to complete the call, and one of his SEAL squad members survived. Posthumously, “Body Armour” was renamed “Murph”, and individuals across the CrossFit and military community complete it every Memorial Day to honor Lt. Murphy’s memory.
DOUBLE MURPH
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SETTING THE STAGE
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Training Week 1
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Training Week 2
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Training Week 3
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Training Week 4
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FINAL TIPS
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CONCLUSION
WHY WE DO MURPH
"Murph"
For time:
1 mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 mile Run
Optional: Complete in a twenty pound vest or body armor.
Murph is a simple and well rounded workout that incorporates a pull, push, and squat movement. But don’t let its simplicity fool you. Hero workouts such as Murph are designed as grueling grinders meant to put your life in perspective. Done properly, with emphasis on proper form over intensity, this workout can bury even the fittest athletes because of its length and repetitive nature.
WHo IS CHRIS HOLT AND WHY ATTEMPT A DOUBLE MURPH?
Chris Holt has never played by others’ rules. After 4 major lung surgeries and a near fatal car accident his freshman year of college, doctors told him he would never play sports or lift weights again. He was to be bound to yoga and pilates. Adopting an underdog mindset, Chris was forced to develop mental toughness, resolve, grit, and a never-quit mentality. Fitness became a way to prove to himself and others that he could do whatever he set his mind to.
Chris left behind a safe career as an architect to follow his passion in the world of CrossFit. He opened CrossFit Threshold, the second Crossfit affiliate in Miami, in 2008. After competing at a high level during the early days of CrossFit, Chris says he now likes to workout “for fun,” without a concern for the clock. His goal is to enjoy training and remain injury free. His favorite workouts these days are the ones that are long and arduous, which is why he’ll commit to something truly outside the norm this Memorial Day: The Double, Unpartitioned, Weighted Murph.
“I've been doing Murph multiple times a year since 2005 when the workout first was released on crossfit.com. It was a natural progression to make the workout tougher. I always do a Double Murph unpartitioned which makes it even more difficult.
On my first attempt, I started with a 20 pound weight vest. That evolved into a 20 pound vest in full SEALFIT gear. Now, I’ll do it in a 30 pound vest.
Some argue that I haven’t ‘mastered’ Murph because I don’t time my effort. However, I workout for me, no one else. Double unpartitioned weighted Murph is not something I ever do for intensity or time. It’s for completion. And that’s part of SEAL training. It’s about mental toughness. The physical toughness of this workout is a given.”
Training week 1
Now that you know the story of Murph, it’s time to prepare. Murph is a test of physical and mental endurance. For Chris Holt, who will be completing an Unpartitioned Double Murph, the stress placed on his body and mind will be even greater. To ensure he’s ready, Chris’ workouts decrease in intensity and increase in volume. Chris is approaching this challenge with a "just finish" mindset, rather than trying to set a personal best. Based on previous attempts, Chris predicts that the entire event will take around 2.5 hours. So similar to an ultra marathon runner or Ironman triathlete, he will focus on training his aerobic energy systems while placing emphasis on the specific movements he will be performing on the day of the event.
KEY TRAINING SESSION:
Tuesday
EMOM 60min - 5 Strict Pull ups
60 minute bike (no arms) - steady pace
EMOTM for 60 minutes
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5 Strict Pull ups
EQUIPMENT: PULL-UP BAR
5 strict pull-ups every minute on the minute for an hour compiles 300 pull-ups in this single session. Resting for the remainder of the minute provides him with enough recovery time to keep his heart rate low to ensure the necessary aerobic adaptations.
60 minute bike (no arms)
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steady pace
EQUIPMENT: FAN BIKE
As if the first hour wasn’t brutal enough, Chris follows the 300 pull-ups with 60 minutes on the assault bike at a steady pace without the use of his arms. This is programmed for a similar benefit; building an aerobic base, while also giving his upper body some welcome rest.
The workout ends up clocking in at the two hour mark. The callouses Chris develops on his hands pale in comparison to those that he’ll develop on his mind during this monotonous grueling grinder.
Training week 2
As the timeline to tackle a Double Murph condenses, Chris Holt’s training plan gets more intense. If you’re planning on tackling a full Murph, your training needs to go to the next level as well. This week, Chris progresses to more advanced workouts -- including some classic CrossFit routines and movements, including the Toes to Bar and the Double Under. This week is all about intensity and power.
KEY TRAINING SESSIONS:
Friday
10 rounds
row 500 meters
20 handstand push-ups
25 GHD sit-ups
1000 Air Squats - performed in sets of 50
Two key sessions are the highlights of week two. On Friday, Chris tackles another massive workout that emphasizes volume rather than intensity. While rowing, handstand pushups and GHD sit ups are not Murph-specific movements, they train muscles that will all be integral to his success during his double Murph attempt. 24 hours later, Chris will perform the seemingly simple task of 1000 air squats. With no time cap enforced, he’ll simply be looking to spend a significant amount of time under tension in a movement that he’ll perform on the day of his Double Murph.
Row 500 meters
EQUIPMENT: ROWER
Ten rounds of 500m on the Concept2 rower conditions Chris’ glutes, hamstrings, quads, and upper body pull-muscles. The full body movement also provides the cardiovascular benefit that Chris needs to boost his endurance.
20 handstand push-ups
EQUIPMENT: NONE
200 handstand push-ups strengthen the small muscles of his shoulder girdle. These essential muscles must be strong and resilient to fight off fatigue as he performs 200 weighted pull-ups.
25 GHD Sit-ups
EQUIPMENT: GHD MACHINE
The GHD sit ups stabilize Chris’ core and build his hip flexors, the strength of which he’ll rely on to power through the final two mile run.
1000 air squats
EQUIPMENT: NONE
By breaking up 1000 squats into 20 sets of 50, Chris gives us some insight into how he’ll plan on executing his strategy on the day of his double Murph attempt. Sticking to a strict minimum of 50 unbroken reps per set provides significant muscular stress, while also ensuring that Chris rests and maintains an aerobic heart rate.
As the lactic acid accumulates in his glutes and quads during the 20 sets, Chris can take solace knowing that on the day of the event, he’ll have 400 less total squats to perform.
Training week 3
KEY TRAINING SESSIONS:
10 calories - Assault Bike
1 Complex:
1 Power Clean + 1 Hang Squat Clean + 1 Shoulder to Overhead (135#)
Friday
10k Row in a 30# vest
Assault Bike
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EQUIPMENT: FAN BIKE
30 rounds
10 cal each
If you’ve attempted a max effort of 10 calories on the assault bike before, you’re aware that it can be accomplished in a matter of seconds by activating your fast twitch muscle fibers. But repeating the effort 30 times over while supersetting with barbell work calls for a different strategy. Chris will keep his heart rate under control and utilize these 10 calorie efforts as a pseudo-recovery period from the barbell complex.
1 CompleX
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EQUIPMENT: BARBELL, PLATES
1 Power Clean + 1 Hang Squat Clean + 1 Shoulder to Overhead (135#)
This barbell complex provides Chris with an efficient, total-body, conditioning set. More importantly, it provides him with some much-needed mental relief from a week full of pull ups, sit ups and dips.
10k Row
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EQUIPMENT: ROWER, WEIGHT VEST
Aerobic the entire way, 10k on the rower with his 30 pound vest allows Chris to get in the much needed cardio that he needs to prep for the 4 miles of running that he’ll do in his double Murph attempt. Opting to row rather than run provides a low-impact alternative.
TRAINING WEEK 4
With just one week of training remaining before his event, Chris’ key session this week focuses on the start and finish of Murph. While many individuals who attempt the standard workout feel they can muscle their way through a mile of running at the start and a mile at the finish, Chris is doubling the distance and increasing the amount of weight he’ll be carrying. This puts an incredible amount of strain on the musculoskeletal system, and is something that Chris has been preparing for.
KEY TRAINING SESSION:
Thursday
5k Run in 30# vest
5K RUN
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EQUIPMENT: WEIGHT VEST
Think about running a 5k on any given day. For many athletes, this is an achievable goal. Now, think about running that same distance if you weighed thirty pounds heavier than you currently do. Whole different ball game. Running with a weight vest places additional stress on your muscular and respiratory systems. Trying to move at a pace he’s comfortable running at without a vest will cause Chris’ heart rate to skyrocket within minutes. Chris will move through this key session slowly and methodically, plotting out a projected cadence and pace that he’ll plan to run at to keep his heart rate in control during the event.
FINAL TIPS
It’s almost time to get after it and tackle Murph. Before you put on your vest and start putting in work, it’s important to remember these things:
1. PRIORITIZE FORM OVER SPEED
Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, the goal of Murph is for it to kick your ass. That means you’re going to get tired. When people get tired, they get sloppy. When they get sloppy, they get hurt. Don’t get sloppy, and you won’t get hurt. The objective is to push yourself, but you’re not impressing anyone if you complete Murph 30 seconds faster with garbage pull up form.
2. Remember why you’re doing it
This is not just a workout. This is a way to honor a hero, and a way to connect with the CrossFit and military communities. We are doing this together. Let’s get after it.
3. BE WEIGHT VEST READY
If you’re going to use a weight vest, you need to be comfortable doing all movements with it. Check out Chris completing the core movements below to get an idea of what your form should look like.
Conclusion
You followed along as Chris Holt scaled his training and prepared for a double, unpartitioned, weighted Murph attempt. Taking place on Monday, May 25th, Chris, along with his support team that included his wife and fellow Ten Thousand athlete Bobby Maximus, descended on Ute CrossFit in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chris’ attempt was unpartitioned, meaning that the full format was as follows: 1 mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 pushup, 300 squats, 2 mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, 1 mile run. For the entire 2+ hours, Chris donned a 30 pound weight vest.
The day before the event, Chris shared his “whys” on his Instagram channel:
“I’m doing this (and do this every year) to honor the men and women that fight for our freedoms and liberties that many of us take for granted. I’m doing this for myself to push my mental and physical limits. It’s on there do we discover parts of ourselves we didn’t know existed. I’m doing this for my family because they inspire me every day. I’m doing this for every person out there that has been told they couldn’t do something. I was told after my four lung surgeries and near fatal car accident that I would never be allowed to lift weights again and that I would be bound to yoga and Pilates. [...] Knowing your whys is everything. My whys push me to limits many deems extreme.”
Members of the Ute CrossFit community, taking on their own personal Murph challenge, watched in awe as Chris grinded away for the better part of the morning. By his second round, it was clear that Chris was fighting serious muscular fatigue. Soaked in sweat, he paced with necessary brakes and struggled to answer questions that Bobby was fielding from individuals following along on the live stream.
“Once you get to muscular failure, it’s just survival.”
In his final mile, Chris fought for every single step. His face was blank, and showed no pain. For this incredible athlete, it was just another day at the office. His final mile was his fastest.
“I’ve done this workout many times but today was special. Having my wife, the Ten thousand family behind me, Bobby, and Rob and his crew made today so memorable. I am so grateful for everyone. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“What Chris Holt did today was tremendously inspiring. His work ethic, perseverance, and the way he attacked the workout is something I won’t forget. Especially in the last mile. No drama, no complaining, no bullshit. Just hard ass work and a deep down desire to succeed for 2 and a half hours. Respect” - Bobby Maximus