The Murph Challenge Day 29: Kari Turkowski
Day 29 of 31 is dedicated to Kari Turkowski. Have you ever wondered how you survived the biggest challenge you faced in life? It was likely because the fire inside of you burned brighter than the fire around you. For anyone that doesn’t know Kari, she’s got one of the strongest fires you’ll ever see burning inside of her. Unfortunately, that fire inside her burned out and flatlined her heart for 2 minutes. Kari had to be brought back to life. The diagnosis was Stage 2 heart failure.
I know Kari from our St. Cloud State Athletics days. She was a elite three sport college athlete. A captain and leader on every team, in every room, and every setting she ever stepped into. That carried her right into her professional career as a CPA on the fast track to becoming a partner.
That flat line and heart condition changed her path. A new path was formed that made her leave her promising accounting career to pursue the medical field at age 30. She became a predoctoral student at Mayo Clinic. Kari’s goal shifted when there was no known solution, other than drugs/procedures, to her heart condition. She wanted to find answers and help other patients with similar conditions. That goal become a reality one year ago when she became Dr. Turkowski after completing her PhD in Biomedical Sciences and accepted a position at Mayo Clinic.
When I started this, what most people would call a “crazy” challenge, I was wanting to complete one of the days with a person I was dedicating the day to. I thought to myself, “who do I know that would be crazy enough to join me?” My mind quickly thought of one person, Kari Turkowski. A heart condition that would make most people out of breath walking up stairs, she defies all odds and does 100 mile races and marathons.
Today was that day. Fitting that I had my best time on day 29 of 31 with this incredible woman sweating (and I mean really sweating ) along side me.
Every Day We Fight is honored and blessed to dedicate today’s Murph Challenge to my friend and unbelievable inspiration, Kari Turkowski.
Day 29 Murph Time: 28:33
Kari’s Time: 34:21
When I did the Murph Challenge for the first time I became hooked. Not because it was fun but because it was painful, challenging, and meaningful.
These 31 challenges are a dedication to a fighter, a warrior, a person battling that’s an everyday hero.
– Tate Wheeler
“The Murph Challenge is more than just a workout. It is a tradition that helps push us, humble us, and allows us the opportunity to dedicate a bit of pain and sweat to honor, LT. Michael P. Murphy, a man who sacrificed everything he had for our freedom.”
-Murph Website