Patrick Burt Memorial

Patrick Burt was Maven’s first member that I didn’t know (at the time). He walked through the bay door in June of 2012. He said very seriously, “I heard some young punk kid who knew his shit opened a box in Rochester.” Naturally skeptical, he had to check it out for himself. A month later, Patrick got his first muscle up and hit a lifetime PR on his deadlift. We were now friends. There was no bullshit with Patrick. I earned his trust, and we earned each others friendship. That year he helped our team qualify for the 2012 regionals by contributing to our CrossFit team open placement. He helped me hang the pull up bars and build the squat platforms in Mavens original space. I helped him achieve many goals he thought the ship had already sailed on. He taught me how to frame walls, and I jokingly would tell him that I taught him everything else. He trusted me to train his kids, kids he was obsessed with. I shared with him my struggles and the guilt and sorrow I had, from losing two dear friends to alcohol and suicide, this year. He shared with me similar struggles and anguish of losing his best friend. We spent countless hours over the last decade discussing training, addiction, adversity, parenting, America, knives, guns, building, and recently, mechanical watches. He recently helped me build a rock wall at Maven and frame my container guest home. I learned so much from him. I also wrote him many personal strength programs through the years that were specific to some of his unique joint issues. He always followed them to a T and would report the results to me promptly. When he wasn’t reporting back, I knew I had to look out for him. He struggled with alcohol and PTSD due to military service in the USMC and many dedicated years as a Detroit Fire Fighter. I shared with him the gruesomeness of how I found my friend Jay. He shared with me the days that “fucked him up the worst” in his years of service. 

 

This past week Patrick came over to collect a watch we had made a deal on. He spent the afternoon with my family. He talked in length about his time at “sad camp” and how lucky he was to have J Bird, Dan and Josie Burt still in his corner. He made several statements about how he was undeserving of having such a great partner and kids. He told me many times through the years that J Bird was a saint and his kids were perfect. Everything I knew about them confirmed these facts.  He thanked me Thursday for being there for him no matter what. I thanked him for all the things he had helped me with through the years, his years of service to our country, and trusting me (the young punk kid) when Maven first opened. 

 

RIP Sargent Patrick “Polar Bear” Burt. You will be missed dearly by your Maven family and many more. You are an American patriot and hero.

-Bradley Berlin (the young punk kid)

 Hero WOD for Sergeant Patrick Burt  

“Polar Bear”

47:00 AMRAP

Buy In: 

1775m Erg

1 Rope Climb

Then:

AMRAP 

4 Deadlifts @BW/.75

3 Bench Press @BW/.75

74 Jump Rope Revolutions 

*at the 21 minute mark stop the AMRAP and re buy in with the following:

1860m Erg

2 Rope Climbs

Significance of numbers:

47: Patrick’s age at death. 

1775: Marine Corp Birth

1: J Bird (Jessica Dworek) 

4/3/74: Date of Birth

21: Patrick’s age when he became a father.

1860: Detroit Fire Department Establishment

2: Patrick’s 2 perfect kids (Josie Burt & Dan Burt)

This workout is to be done on a continuously ascending 47:00 clock. At 3, 2, 1, Go the athlete begins with a 1775 meters on a Row or ski erg followed by one rope climb. Once this “buy in” is complete, the athlete may begin on the reps and rounds of the AMRAP. Four deadlifts at body weight for males and 3/4 body weight for females. Three bench press at the same weights. And then 74 jump rope revolutions. These revolutions maybe done in single unders or double unders or, preferably a combination of both. Singles equal one revolution and doubles equal two revolutions. Patrick frequently worked through workouts with jump roping in a similar fashion.  At the 21 minute mark on the clock, the athlete must stop working through the AMRAP and re-buy in with 1860 meters on a row or ski erg and two rope climbs. Once this second buy in is complete the athlete may resume the AMRAP where he or she left off. 

This workout is intended to be done with reverence and intensity as any hero WOD should, however if at any point during the workout a fellow trainee needs a spot or a holler, provide it, as Patrick would have. 

Scaling Notes 

Scale rope climbs to rope pulls from your back to the standing position at a two to one ratio.

Scale barbell movements to weights that are heavy respective to your ability, but can be done unbroken, at least to begin the workout. 

Scale jump rope revolutions to all singles or lateral hops if needed.