Mark Zuckerberg takes on the 'Murph Challenge' workout in a 20lb vest

June 2024 ยท 5 minute read

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has revealed his grueling workout challenge to mark Memorial Day in honor of fallen soldiers and 'those who defend us'.

The Silicon Valley titan took on the brutal 'Murph Challenge' workout which involved 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats, and a mile-long run.

If that wasn't tiring enough for Zuckerberg, 39, the Facebook co-founder took it all on while having a 20lb weight strapped around his chest.

Zuckerberg may have secured his position as the fittest tech CEO in Silicon Valley as he was reportedly in the top 200 of tens of thousands of participants who have taken on the 'Murph Challenge' at the time of his post.

The exhausting challenge is named after Michael P Murphy, a U.S. Navy Seal who was killed on a tour of Afghanistan in 2005 who would regularly take on the brutal workout. 

Mark Zuckerberg, 39, shared a photo of himself to Facebook wearing a camouflage weighted vest as he took on the 'Murph Challenge' for Memorial Day

Mark Zuckerberg, 39, shared a photo of himself to Facebook wearing a camouflage weighted vest as he took on the 'Murph Challenge' for Memorial Day

Zuckerberg also shared another picture of his two daughter's - August, 7, and Max, 5 - taking on a mini version of the challenge

Zuckerberg also shared another picture of his two daughter's - August, 7, and Max, 5 - taking on a mini version of the challenge

'The Murph Challenge is not just a physical test, but also a mental and emotional one,' its website explains.

'Participants are pushed to their limits and are encouraged to keep pushing through the pain and exhaustion, just as Lieutenant Murphy did during his final moments.

Many Americans, like Zuckerberg, take on the 'Murph Challenge' each year on Memorial Day - a federal holiday on the last Monday of May - to remember military personnel who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Some $2 million has been raised for its charity, the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation through the challenge since 2014.

Zuckerberg shared a photo of himself to Facebook wearing a camouflage weighted vest and another of his two daughters - August, 7, and Max, 5 - taking on a mini version of the challenge.

'I try to do the Murph challenge with the girls every Memorial Day as a tradition to honor those who defended us,' Zuckerberg wrote.

'One of Lt Murphy's favorite workouts was running a mile, then doing 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats, and then running another mile -- all while wearing a 20lb weighted pack.

'This year I got it done in 39:58. The girls did a quarter-Murph (unweighted) in 15 mins!'

The exhausting challenge is named after Michael P Murphy, a U.S. Navy Seal who was killed on a tour of Afghanistan in 2005 who would regularly take on the brutal workout

The exhausting challenge is named after Michael P Murphy, a U.S. Navy Seal who was killed on a tour of Afghanistan in 2005 who would regularly take on the brutal workout

Mark Zuckerberg is married to Priscilla Chan (left). They are pictured at the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 01, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Mark Zuckerberg is married to Priscilla Chan (left). They are pictured at the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 01, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada

The tech titan, who has a third child named Aurelia with wife Priscilla Chan, admitted that the weighted pull-ups were 'brutal' and that 'last mile run when your legs are torched from the squats and your heart rate is pegged is pretty brutal too'.

READ MORE: Mark Zuckerberg stuns onlookers in his first jiu-jitsu tournament

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Commenters were impressed with the Facebook boss' workout time.

One person noted that Zuckerberg's time would have ranked among the top 200 entries of 20,000 participants at the time of his post.

But Zuckerberg noted there were different ways people approached the challenge.

'The most hardcore is called Rx and those people do the 100 pull ups, then 200 push ups, and then the 300 squats sequentially,' he explained.

'I did a partitioned Murph with a bunch of sets with smaller reps of each alternating. Still challenging, but my Rx time would be a lot slower.'

Zuckerberg has shared much of his fitness journey with his followers on social media, and his recent success on the Jiu-Jitsu mat.

The Facebook founder last month walked away with a gold medal in the Nogi Master 1 White Belt Feather Weight Division and a Silver medal in the Gi Master 2 White Belt Feather Weight Division.

Zuckerberg had shared pictures of himself winning the tournament onto his Instagram page.

He wrote: 'Competed in my first jiu jitsu tournament and won some medals for the Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu team.'

Zuckerberg last month shared an image of himself alongside his Jiu-Jitsu training team after the event in California

Zuckerberg last month shared an image of himself alongside his Jiu-Jitsu training team after the event in California

Mark Zuckerberg shared pictures of his Jiu-Jitsu exploits onto his social media pages

Mark Zuckerberg shared pictures of his Jiu-Jitsu exploits onto his social media pages

The Meta CEO walked away with two medals following the event in California last month

The Meta CEO walked away with two medals following the event in California last month

His trainer Dave Camarillo shared a post on his win to his Instagram page, saying: 'I've been privileged to witness some amazing individuals do amazing things in my career.

'And I have been honored to play a small role in their life. Yesterday was one of those times.

'It's inspiring to see someone so known challenge themselves in a new arena. This goes to show how amazing the art of Jiu-Jitsu really is.

'It changes you, it enhances the power of will - it is magic. It also attracts some very driven people.

'I am honored to train with you, teach you and learn from you. You are truly an amazing person.

'Thank you for sharing your drive, your enthusiasm and your graciousness to all of us.'

In response, Zuckerberg responded: 'You are an amazing teacher and coach.

'I learn so much from you -- not just about the sport but how it relates to everything in life. It's an honor to train with you.'

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