In 2022, as I approached the 5K mark of the BAA 10K, a beautiful sight arose before me on Comm. Ave.: a Raising Cane’s. Tragically, the course did not lead me through its doors, but instead veered sharply –cruelly, even– in the opposite direction. Directly into dazzling, direct sunlight that fried my face to a crisp that would’ve made Cane’s jealous.

Last year, they changed the course, trading the alluring oasis of a fried chicken joint for expansive views of the Charles. I’d call it breathtaking if, at nearly 300 pounds, I’d had any breath left to take. Indeed, my goal at that point was simply to finish. My moonshot goal was to finish in under two hours.

I finished in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 43 seconds.

I finished eight spots shy of last in a race of over 8,000 people.

But.

I finished.

Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there (and not in the good “things got easier” way). My weight crested to nearly 340 pounds. My sleep apnea worsened. And earlier this week, I was diagnosed with full-blown Type-2 Diabetes. Suddenly, eating smarter and exercising more (read: at all) are no longer helpful admonishments. My relationship with food is fundamentally shifting.

And I’m not just running for fun anymore; I’m running for my life.

I’m fortunate enough to be at a place where my care team feels I can beat this without needing to resort to the most difficult measures. But for so many patients, managing weight with diet and exercise alone isn’t enough. And that brings them to us in General & Gastrointestinal Surgery, where an award-winning team in concert with the Center for Weight Management & Wellness can assist with both medical and surgical interventions (including bariatric surgery and bariatric endoscopy) accompanied by a raft of excellent dietician and psych assistance.

I hope you will consider supporting me in this year’s 10K, as it means something different for me personally than my previous races. And if you donate and are interested in receiving updates on my personal health journey between now and race day, please let me know!

Sic Parvis Magna

- Adam K. Bogert, March 27, 2025

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Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), a founding member of Mass General Brigham and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital (BWFH) provide compassionate, high-quality care in virtually every medical and surgical specialty to patients locally, regionally, nationally and around the world. Every day, our clinicians, researchers, and caregivers work to find new ways to predict, prevent, and treat the most challenging diseases of our time while delivering world-class care with a profoundly human touch. Our Brigham 10K Teammates are proud to fuel quality patient care, innovative training, and life-changing discoveries that will benefit patients here in Boston and around the world, all in support of an area that is meaningful to them.

Thank you for supporting this extraordinary group of runners.