While many spent Memorial Day relaxing at the pool, beach, or barbecuing, a dedicated group gathered early at a CrossFit gym in southwest Miami-Dade for a special purpose: completing the Murph Challenge.
Participants packed the Team Soul Miami gym at 8354 SW 40th St. on Monday morning to take on the grueling physical and emotional test in honor of Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, who was killed in Iraq in 2005 while saving his comrades.
“The way to get through this workout is to think you have one more day to live, that those individuals right now do not have,” said Omar Figueroa, one of the participants.
“It’s going to suck, we are going to suffer, it’s going to be very difficult, but what matters is that we do it,” added Giorgio Rapicavoli, another participant.
Figueroa dedicated each breath to his fallen friend, Victor Cologne. Rapicavoli, completing the challenge for the second year, pushed himself further by wearing a weight vest for the first time.
Coach and gym owner Danny Soul emphasized the deeper meaning behind their efforts. “Some other folks are more thinking about different personal struggles they’ve had within their life and how that relates to their families,” he said.
The challenge saw participants finishing at varying times: some in as little as 45 minutes, others in 60, and some taking 90. Despite the differing completion times, each participant demonstrated heart and determination.
Reflecting on the day, Rapicavoli expressed gratitude for those who serve. “I don’t have to worry about getting home because I feel safe, and I know a lot of people put their lives at risk so I can have that luxury. So today, I guess it’s a big thank you to everybody,” he said. “It was brutal, it was very hard, probably one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life, but it was amazing.”
The Murph Challenge served as the ultimate workout in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.\