Photo: Murph, 2023.
Tomorrow, thousands of people will do the workout “Murph”.
Some will do it for fitness. Some for the challenge. Some because their gym programmed it. Some for all three.
But the workout was never really about running, squats, push-ups, and pull-ups.
Memorial Day isn’t about a long weekend, burgers, or sales banners hanging in storefront windows.
It’s about remembering people who gave up every future version of themselves so others could keep living theirs.
That’s hard to comprehend when you really sit with it.
And no, a workout doesn’t compare to war. It shouldn’t. That’s not the point.
The point is that voluntary hardship reminds us to be grateful for the comfort we have.
Running when you’re tired. Picking yourself up for another rep. Finishing something difficult when your body wants to stop.
There’s value in that.
Not because suffering makes you special.
But because discipline builds perspective.
Bodybuilding was never meant to be about vanity alone.
It’s about building a body and mind capable of carrying weight:
For your family.
For your responsibilities.
For your mission.
For the people around you.
The way men like Alan P. Mead built.
So today, remember why we do hard things.
Remember the fallen.
Remember why we build.
And keep building.