For the third year, “The Murph” mixed-terrain 5- mile race will offer an athletic challenge, barbecue and family fun Saturday — to benefit three local nonprofit organizations and remember the heroics of the Navy SEAL for which the race is named.

Walkers start at 9 a.m. and runners at 10 a.m. from McMann Athletic Complex.

The race was organized in 2012 in honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who was killed in combat during a gun battle in Afghanistan in 2005. According to Murphy’s biography, he was involved in a “fierce gun battle” on the face of a mountain between the SEALs and a “much larger enemy force. Despite the intensity of the firefight and suffering grave gunshot wounds himself, Murphy is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates.” Murphy reportedly moved into the open, “with complete disregard for his own life,” to gain a better position to transmit a call for help for his men. His actions resulted in the rescue of a fellow SEAL and recovery of remains of three others.

The race that first year was followed with the delivery of the USS Michael Murphy, a DDG 112 constructed at Bath Iron Works. All proceeds from the race will support the Michael P. Murphy Scholarship, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Fields for Our Future — all which benefit young people in education, fitness and mentoring, areas that Murphy excelled, according to an article in the March newsletter for Bath Iron Works.

This year the crew of the Zumwalt is supporting the event by providing a family area, near the tennis courts, with activities including a bounce house, dunk tank and life-size “Battle Ship” game and a sling shot shooting range using peanuts as ammunition and paper plates for targets. Families are welcome to attend this area during the race to cheer on race participants.

Following the race there will be a barbecue taking place just up the road at the American Legion Smith- Tobey Post 21 across from the legion field. It is free to race participants and volunteers; for others the cost to eat is $5 in advance or $10 per adult and $5 per child at the door.

The Bath Parks and Recreation Department first organized the race to raise funds for the Navy SEAL Foundation and honor Murphy. The 5-mile race along the Whiskeag Trail, is a challenging course with uneven surfaces and sharp turns, on one of the city’s beautiful trails.

Sponsoring the race this year is Bill Dodge Auto Group, Coastal Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Fleet Feet Sports, Holland Chiropractic Wellness Center, M.W. Sewall & Co., and Shipyard Brewing Company. Sponsor venders will also be present at the event.

Numbers and T-shirts pickup will take place between 8 to 9:30 a.m. Cost for the trail race is $25 if received by 4 p.m. today and $30 on the day of the race. Register online at www.running4free.com/RaceDetails.a spx?raceid=106.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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