Submitted photo – The participants at the second annual Eureka schools Murph workout after completing the CrossFit challenge this week.
A group of approximately 44 Eureka City School students participated in a CrossFit challenge to promote a healthy mindset and honor a fallen hero on Thursday.
The Murph workout, as it is known, has become an annual tradition on Memorial Day weekend all across the nation, and it is quickly establishing itself as a local tradition too, thanks to the efforts of three ECS teachers.
The challenging workout begins with a one-mile run, followed by 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and another one-mile run.
It is named after Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2005.
This is the second year the event has been held at Eureka High, with more than 50 participants showing up to challenge themselves.
“All participants showed great heart and pushed themselves in a very physically demanding workout,” Eureka High teacher/coach Jeff Bird said.
Bird organized the event along with Zane Middle School teachers Reuben Davis and Andrew Haraldson.
This year’s event included 14 Eureka middle school students, around 30 high school students, 10 Eureka fireman, a marine, a Eureka teacher and one “really tough” ECS mother, Jessica Stauffer, according to Bird.
Stauffer was the only competitor to complete the workout while wearing a 14-pound weight vest, which honors the way Michael Murphy used to do it.
After receiving positive feedback at the inaugural event a year ago, Bird and his fellow organizers decided to try and make it an annual event.
“The more people we talked to about it, the more people that said that sounds like fun,” said Bird, who added “It’s not about who wins and who loses, but about pushing yourself.”
The top finishers this year from among the Eureka City Schools students were good friends Jonah Ask and Will Defenbaugh, who completed the challenging CrossFit together in a time of 42 minutes, 13 seconds.
Jesse Vasquez was next best, finishing in a time of 44:10, followed by Kyle Johnston in a time of 45:30.
Bird says he “absolutely” wants to host the Murph workout again next year and is hoping to promote the event beyond the City of Eureka.
“Next year, we would like to keep offering it to more people,” he said.
After his death, Lieutenant Murphy was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions and sacrifice.
