Apparently, once wasn’t enough. CrossFit Games Director Dave Castro announced today — via Instagram, because of course — that Hero WOD “Murph” will make its return to the CrossFit Games just one year after its first appearance. That’s right, the first workout of the 2016 Games will be a 1 mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and a 1-mile run.
And from Castro’s announcement, it appears competitors will once again need to complete it with a weighted vest.
Here’s the kicker: We’re almost sure (in our conspiratorial minds, that is) there’s some Castro isn’t telling us just yet. After all, he’s known for throwing some sick twists on top of otherwise normal workouts. And a straight repeat of the event in consecutive years just doesn’t seem like it’s the whole story. Maybe it’s a heavier vest? Scaled-up movements? Fighting off ninja attacks along the runs?
Of course, it could be simply a repeat of last year’s “Murph,” which knocked out several competitors — like Annie Thorisdottir and Maddy Myers — after battles with fatigue, heat exhaustion, and rhabdomyolysis. Savvy Games qualifiers will likely have spent significant time training for hard, long, and hot workouts in anticipation of something like this, so perhaps this is just Castro’s way of measuring prep and fitness levels in consecutive years.
As a reminder, last year’s top three women in Games “Murph” were Sam Briggs, Alethea Boon, and Kristin Holte. The top three men were Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson, Mat Fraser, and Noah Ohlsen. All of those competitors are returning to Carson for the 2016 CrossFit Games.
Looking for some other Hero WODs to tackle this summer? Check out our interview with Jeff Yan, a trainer on a mission to complete every single Hero WOD.
