Carthage gym commemorates Memorial Day with annual Murph Challenge

CARTHARGE, Mo (KOAM) - Midwestern Built Carthage joins other gyms around the country to commemorate Memorial Day with a tradition—the annual Murph Challenge workout. The workout honors Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who died in Afghanistan in 2005 and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

"We are suffering through this workout to try to put ourselves through some sort of pain, to give memory to what they went through," says Brock Veil, Midwestern Built Carthage manager.

The standard workout includes 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, and 300 air squats. On top of that, 2 miles running. The sweat and exhaustion were clear on the faces of the more than 60 people who joined the event in Carthage.

On his first time doing the challenge, Midwestern Built Carthage member Fred Burge said he had mixed feelings. "I am actually kind of nervous about it, but I'm excited. So my thought is if I can just get through it all today, if I can even do that, I'll be happy with that."

For Burge, it was an opportunity to honor veterans, work out, and meet friends. "I just wanted to see all the gyms come together at one time. We usually work out in classes, so I don't get to see everybody at once, so I thought that sounded fun. Plus, it's a famous workout that I always hear about. I thought it would be fun."

The money raised during the event will be donated to Alyson Brown, a gym member battling cancer for two years.

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