Logan Gaddar, a superintendent at construction firm Turner Construction Company, was always an athlete. He ran track when he was younger and played football throughout high school and college. After graduation, he stayed active and worked out, but something was missing: the competitive edge organized sports provide.
“After college, I felt a gap in my life,” Logan says. “I was bouncing around from intermural sports to occasionally running, to lifting and lots of summer activities, but there was nothing I was training for.”
After overhearing some colleagues discussing marathon training, however, something clicked. A light bulb went off when Logan realized the level of commitment needed to complete a marathon, and in 2024, he ran his first, the Pittsburgh Marathon. His passion was unlocked.
In the wake of Pittsburgh, Logan learned, through his work on Massachusetts General Hospital’s campus, that the hospital had a team for the Boston Marathon — a “bucket list event for a lot of people.” He immediately knew Boston was his next race.
Building Bridges
In a joint venture with Walsh Brothers, Turner serves as the lead construction group working on the Phillip and Susan Ragon Building — a new building on Mass General’s campus that will be a cornerstone of Mass General Brigham’s cancer and heart and vascular programs. In his work as superintendent, Logan oversees the construction of the bridge connecting the new building to the existing hospital buildings. And during this time on site at Mass General, he has witnessed the hospital’s daily impact on the community around him.
“To be a part of the Mass General Marathon Team and to give back, while I’m working on the Ragon Building, feels like a full circle moment for me.”
“I see everything firsthand from the outside of the building. Seeing the vast volume of patient care at Mass General is incredible. It’s hard to wrap your head around,” he says. “Mass General is investing in the future of healthcare, which is also my livelihood.”
Logan says that his work constructing the connecting bridge serves as a metaphor to inspire him throughout marathon training and fundraising, as well: When running became his athletic outlet post-college, it bridged his old life as an athlete with his new life and provided the fulfillment and connection he was seeking as an adult.
“To be a part of the Mass General Marathon Team and to give back, while I’m working on the Ragon Building, feels like a full circle moment for me,” he says.
Running for a Cause
For Logan, running is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile. He frequently trains in the afternoon and evening — often when he’s feeling tired and mentally fatigued from a long workday. But everything changes once he hits the pavement.
“This whole winter has been unpleasantly cold, windy and rainy, so there are days when it’s tough to get out the door. But once I do and get through that first mile, I feel so empowered,” he says. “I often find myself smiling, laughing and kind of dancing or singing while I’m running.”
When Logan ran the Pittsburgh Marathon, he trained for six months. Though he was nervous on race day, he finished strong. This time around, he is less focused on miles and timing, and more determined to have fun and — by meeting his $7,500 fundraising goal — to support the hospital he sees making a difference every day.
“From the Ragon Building construction site, I see people come to Mass General for maybe the worst day of their life, or in some cases the best day of their life,” Logan says. “And the doctors and staff move forward with positive attitudes regardless. I really admire that and want to give back any way I can.”
If you would like to support Logan, click here.
To learn more about Mass General’s marathon team, click here.
