GAY BAR + FUN RUN
A match made in heaven, on TikTok, and IRL
On a cloudy day in May,
I walked through the doors of my favorite gay bar, The Exley— a cozy, unpretentious cocktail bar with a quaint interior and a newly rebuilt wooden outdoor structure.
Usually, I’m the first to arrive.
But not this time. Two people I didn’t recognize were already there, dressed in running shorts and sneakers.
Something told me this was going to be a special run—maybe even the start of a new chapter.
I first launched the GAY BAR FUN RUN at The Exley back in September 2023.
The group began as a local complement to my virtual run coaching business, Great Day. But it quickly took on a life of its own.
Like The Exley itself, this run club is low-key and inviting.
Compared to many other gay bars in NYC— or run clubs for that matter— it’s not a scene. It’s just a good place to hang with friends and make new ones.
On this particular day, runners kept trickling in: some regulars, lots of new faces.
A few were longtime New Yorkers, others fresh transplants.
One runner told me he took the subway all the way from Washington Heights. Another ran in from Bed-Stuy.
I guess I have social media to thank for that. Begrudgingly.
I’ve never been someone who loves sharing online.
Before launching Great Day, I’d post maybe once every four months—nothing polished, nothing personal. Definitely no storytelling.
But I learned early in my entrepreneurship journey that social media wasn’t optional. At least not if I wanted people to know I existed.
So I started posting. TikToks, mostly.
I spent hours learning to script, shoot, and edit. My therapist had her work cut out for her helping me navigate the cringiness.
Slowly but surely, I picked up a few followers. Even went viral a couple of times (well, my version of viral).
But the truth is, I felt totally out of my depth. I wasn’t a natural content creator. I wasn’t a storyteller. And I sure as hell couldn’t capture beautiful film.
Even as the quality of my content improved over time, I started to hate it. Not just dislike it—hate it.
I couldn’t see the value anymore. Just the negative comments, the bad training advice from popular but unqualified creators, and a whole lot of thirst masquerading as motivation.
And content creation ate up all my time.
I’ve always been someone who believes in showing, not telling. But this is marketing, babe, and I’ve got a business to run.
By April 2023, I knew I was burning out, so I hired a social media manager—now good friend—Grace. A runner herself, she understood both the sport and the content world.
Grace taught me about storytelling. She encouraged me to find my voice instead of chasing trends. She filmed gorgeous clips of me running and created value-packed content that actually helped people.
With her help, my business grew. I still didn’t love social media, but I didn’t hate it anymore.
That changed again in January.
For a mix of personal and professional reasons, I had to take a break from content creation.
I couldn’t deal with the swirl of negativity and isolation anymore—especially when real life, happening right in front of me, needed my attention.
But Grace stuck by me. We took a step back and reimagined how social media could serve me—not the other way around.
I returned to posting regularly in late March, this time with a renewed sense of purpose.
I’m no longer trying to compete. I’m just sharing what matters in a way that’s real. For people who resonate with it.
And that, I think, is why my most recent video blew up—and why so many new runners came to join us at the GAY BAR FUN RUN.
People are hungry for something real.
Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or have never run a day in your life, this club offers a chance to connect beyond the screen.
It’s about turning internet friends into real-life community.
That’s why we do more than just run.
We hosted a Stoner 5K with queer, local cannabis brand Flamer, followed by a smoke session in the park.
Last fall, we teamed up with the amazing Coach Corky for Your Best Long Run Ever, helping runners prep for their fall marathons.
Twice a year—during the holidays and Pride—we raise money for the Ali Forney Center by raffling off fun prizes.
And we even took a spa day trip to SoJo Spa Club in New Jersey, which was basically just an excuse to talk about gay shit for eight hours.
I hope the club keeps growing.
But as someone who’s pretty anti-trend and anti-hype, I’m also cautious. I’ve seen what happens when something cool loses its soul.
So we’re planning some thoughtful updates: new events, an online community, and more—all designed to keep our core values intact while making space for more people to join.
Because I believe deeply in what we’re doing here. In the value it brings to runners, and to our community.
So... what are you waiting for?
Come run with us.
GAY BAR FUN RUN (sign up for notifications & details on Heylo):
🗓️ 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month
📍 Rise (HK) and The Exley (Williamsburg), respectively
🔁 Your choice of 3 or 5 miles
🤝 All people & all paces welcome
🎒 Bag drop available
🍸 Drinks after
The next runs are on June 10th at Rise & June 24th at the Exley!
Want to talk about running? About coaching? Email me at brian@greatdayforrunners.com.
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