# Anyone here done the "Murph" challenge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112 "2017-12-10T15:34:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/1 "2017-12-10T15:34:03Z")
I met my neighbor at the gym yesterday, and as usual, she always wants to do some brutal whole-body workout (she’s a firefighter, and in top-notch shape). We grabbed another friend, and the three of us made a precession up and down the stairs, holding a 45lb plate over our heads. At the bottom of the stairs we did a 1-minute plank. We did this cycle ten times. When we were done, I was wiped. Afterwards, the two of them were talking about doing something like this every weekend, and pondering what to do. They both got this evil gleam in their eyes and looked at each other and said "Murph?’ I had never heard of this, so I looked it up. It’s: 1 mile run 100 pullups 200 pushups 300 air-squats 1 mile run. And, you are supposed to do the run with 20lbs on your back. Ugh. The pushups should be the easiest for me - I can do 50 without a break. 100 pullups are going to take a while. Not sure about the squats. And the run - well, I’m really slow, but I can do it. Has anyone here done this? How brutal was it? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/2 "2017-12-10T15:48:48Z")
100 pull ups in a row? Are these slow complete pull ups or those cheating fast ones using your momentum to cheat? This sounds like a fun new year challenge. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/3 "2017-12-10T15:53:43Z")
The bookend runs seem like the easy parts, and I hate to run. The middle three would be a challenge. I’d break them up into circuits. 10 pull-ups, 20 push-ups, 30 squats. Repeat 10 times with short recovery in between sets. It would suck, a lot, and take some time, but doable in chunks. Is there a time limit to complete the entire thing? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/4 "2017-12-10T16:11:45Z")
There’s no time limit per se, and the pullups/pushups/squats can be done in any order, with any amount of time necessary to complete. From what I’ve read on the web, most beginners end up doing a lot of “kipping” on the pullups, because doing 100 strictly is pretty damn hard. Best times seem to be in the 25 minute range, but that’s for some young bucks who can run a 6-minute mile. I’m 57, and I would shoot for an hour or more to complete it (20-25 minutes for the runs, 40 minutes for everything else). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/5 "2017-12-10T16:16:36Z")
I literally can’t do more than 2 pullups, but the rest would be a piece of cake especially if you can alternate the squats and pushups. Yeah, I can do 20 real pushups in a row but can’t do pullups: I’m specialized OK? I’ve run 15 miles with 10 lbs on my back last year so 2 with 20 wouldn’t be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/6 "2017-12-10T16:26:10Z")
I prefer the Mirth Challenge. That’s where you sit on a parkbench drinking beer and laughing at people doing 200 sit-ups. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/7 "2017-12-10T16:47:13Z")
^ Uh…how much beer you got there, C-fish? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/8 "2017-12-10T16:49:30Z")
The answer is always, “More”. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/9 "2017-12-10T16:55:47Z")
It’s not supposed to be a daily workout. It’s a Memorial Day event to support the LT Michael Murphy Scholarship Fund. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/10 "2017-12-10T16:56:19Z")
I thought this would be about the Murph the Surf challenge: stealing the Star of India. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/11 "2017-12-10T17:19:41Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I prefer the Mirth Challenge. That’s where you sit on a parkbench drinking beer and laughing at people doing 200 sit-ups. Ditto. After reading the OP, I had to take a nap. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/12 "2017-12-10T17:39:44Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > 100 pull ups in a row? Are these slow complete pull ups or those cheating fast ones using your momentum to cheat? [first thing I thought of](https://i.imgur.com/hlxjgwy.gif) (SFW gif) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/13 "2017-12-10T20:15:39Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I thought this would be about the Murph the Surf challenge: stealing the Star of India. Wait. Isn’t _The Star of India_ an ocean liner? I guess the surf would _have_ to be involved at some point… ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/14 "2017-12-10T20:49:15Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Wait. Isn’t _The Star of India_ an ocean liner? > > I guess the surf would _have_ to be involved at some point… [Murph the Surf.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm91RtN-cDg) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/15 "2017-12-11T00:12:11Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The answer is always, “More”. [More Beer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJljgQbMwrE) commercial ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/16 "2017-12-11T00:26:14Z")
All these hijacks are amusing, but I would really like to know if anyone has actually done this. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/17 "2017-12-11T13:02:16Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s: > 1 mile run > 100 pullups > 200 pushups > 300 air-squats > 1 mile run. I could do this. It might take a couple weeks, but I could do it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/18 "2017-12-11T14:03:56Z")
I never have, and have never would have been able to. Suck at pull ups. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/19 "2017-12-11T15:19:38Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > All these hijacks are amusing, but I would really like to know if anyone has actually done this. Dude. Look around. This is the SDMB, not American Ninja. The most common athletic events around here are mental gymnastics and xtreme pedantry. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112/20 "2017-12-11T16:44:57Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Dude. Look around. This is the SDMB, not American Ninja. > > The most common athletic events around here are mental gymnastics and xtreme pedantry. > 😉 You know, that’s pretty funny when I think about it. I imagine the SDMB to be a cross-section of humanity, but it’s really a very self-selected bunch of intellectuals (or, people who think they are intellectuals, like me). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-done-the-murph-challenge/804112.md?page=2)