You're not someone who "learned to code." You ran a business for 7 years, went back for CS at 35, and built a modular widget platform that serves restaurants, contractors, delivery businesses, auto services, home services, and more. You have instincts from both sides. That's the story.
"I'm not learning how to build a company. I already did that. I chose to become an engineer so I could build the next one myself. And I did."
Everything happens during and right after your 10-mile morning run. iPhone chest strap → record thoughts mid-run → edit footage → post to TikTok + YouTube. That's the system.
Your Story Arc — The Content Backbone
EARLY 20s
Homeless 16 months. Survived. Started running.
20s–30s
Built a business. Grew it for 7 years.
THE BREAK
Lost everything. Dad died. Started over.
AGE 35
Returned to college. CS degree. Chose engineering.
NOW — 39
10mi/day. Widgetfied is live. Planet Fitness. Shipping.
The Chest Strap Content Process
01
Strap Up & Run (4:45 AM)
iPhone chest strap mount. Camera rolling. 10 miles minimum. The run IS the content — raw POV footage, breathing, pavement, sunrise.
02
Spit Thoughts Mid-Run
At key moments — mile 3, mile 7, cool down — talk directly to camera. Unscripted. What you're thinking, what you solved, what you're building. The chest strap POV is the signature.
03
Edit the Footage (15-20 min)
Cut the best moments. Add text overlays, trending audio if needed. Use the week's AI prompt for captions and hooks. Cut for TikTok (60-90s) and YouTube (3-8 min long form).
04
Post to TikTok + YouTube
TikTok: short cuts with RunTok tags. YouTube: longer edits, run vlogs, build updates. Reply to comments during PF breaks. Stack engagement.
Chest Strap Run Video Topics
iPhone strapped to your chest. Camera rolling the whole run. At key mile markers — mile 3, mile 7, cool down — look down at the camera and spit a thought. No script. These are triggers for those moments. Edit the best clips after.
🏃
The Run Itself
What happened on today's run. What your brain did at mile 7. The chest strap captures all of it — raw POV, breathing, pavement. The run IS the content.
What I solved in my head before 6 AM todayA bug, a business decision, a Widgetfied feature — talk to the chest cam at mile 8 when it clicks. #runtok #morningrun
The difference between mile 2 and mile 9Mile 2 you're still waking up. Mile 9 you've already made 3 decisions for the day. Record both moments — show the shift.
Why I run 10 miles minimum — not 3, not 5The cognitive payoff doesn't kick in at 5K. Talk to the camera when you feel the switch happen. #distancerunning #10milerun
What a double day looks like (10 in the AM, 10 in the PM)Strap up for both runs. The second run is different energy — darker, quieter. Show both.
Running in the dark at 4:45 AM — the chest cam POVNobody's out. Headlamp or streetlights. The visual of running alone before dawn is TikTok gold. #4amclub #earlymorningrun
The worst run this week and why I still wentNot every run is good. The point is the streak, not the split. #runstreak #runnerslife
💻
Software Engineering
The hardest thing you've ever done. Talk about what makes it that hard — mid-run, breathing hard, chest cam rolling. #techtok #codertok
Software engineering is the hardest thing I've ever doneSustained cognitive precision over months. Talk about it at mile 7 when your brain is firing. #softwareengineer #buildinpublic
What I worked on in Widgetfied last night from 7-10 PMSpecific. A feature, a refactor, a bug. What the 3-hour block produced. Talk about it on the run. #saas #indiehacker
The moment a piece of code finally clicksYou've been staring at it for days. Then on the run it just... resolves. Catch that moment on chest cam.
Why I chose to become an engineer instead of hiring one7 years running a business taught me what happens when you can't evaluate your own tech. #foundertok #techfounder
What my CS degree actually taught me vs. what building Widgetfied taught meSchool gives you the language. Shipping gives you the scars. #computerscience #saasfounder
Running and debugging are the same disciplineBoth require you to stay calm when everything says quit. #runtok #codertok
📦
Widgetfied — The Product
You built this. It's live. Talk about it mid-run like you own it — because you do. #buildinpublic #saastok
What Widgetfied actually does in plain EnglishModular widgets for service businesses — ordering, routing, booking, payments, AI estimates, customer portal. Explain it at mile 5 like you're telling someone at PF.
A feature I shipped this week and why it mattersTie it to a real customer problem. You've lived the problem — explain the fix mid-run. #buildinpublic #shipfast
Why Widgetfied starts free and Growth is $29/monthFree tier to get in the door. The business owner in you set the pricing. The engineer in you built enterprise quality.
The Genius Router — delivery route optimization without the jargonVRPTW sounds intimidating. Explain it as: "your delivery routes, but smart." Perfect for a mid-run explainer clip.
The Cart & Menu widget — and why restaurants need itAI dietary recommendations, online ordering, spreadsheet POS. One widget replaces 3 tools. #restauranttech
A customer problem I heard at PF that Widgetfied already solvesDon't pitch. Just connect the dots out loud on the next run. #smallbusiness #saas
What's next for Widgetfied — the roadmap spoken rawWhere you're taking it. What users are asking for. What you're shipping next. Talk about it at mile 9.
🏋️
Planet Fitness Floor
You're surrounded by your customers every day. You were one of them. Talk about what you see — bring it up on the next morning's run.
A conversation I had yesterday with a small business owner at PFAnonymized. What they said, what you recognized from your own 7 years. Bring it to the next run.
Why I work at Planet Fitness when I have a CS degree and a live SaaSYou chose this. It's field intelligence, not a fallback. Talk about it mid-run. #dayinmylife
The types of business owners who come through PFRestaurant owners, detailers, HVAC techs, personal trainers, contractors, plumbers, landscapers — you see the entire ecosystem Widgetfied serves.
What I notice about small business owners that they don't notice about themselvesThe patterns. The wasted time they've normalized. The problems they think are just "part of it."
The difference between how I see PF members now vs. before I built WidgetfiedBefore: gym members. Now: people whose problems you solved in code. #foundertok #smallbusiness
🔥
The Story — Your Arc
Homeless at 20 → business → lost everything → CS at 35 → shipped Widgetfied at 39. Drop pieces of this story mid-run. Not all at once. #storytimetiktok
What being homeless at 20 taught me about showing up16 months. No safety net. Running kept you sane. That discipline never left. #runtok #nevergiveup
What 7 years of running a business taught me that a CS degree didn'tCustomers, cash flow, failure tolerance. The business came first — the engineering came after.
Starting over at 35 — what that decision actually felt likeNot inspirational. Terrifying. But you'd already survived worse. Talk about it at mile 8.
How running brought clarity after rock bottomThe running ramped up. The clarity came back. You went from surviving to choosing. #runningcommunity
My dad died and I finished my degree anywayNot "in spite of." Just: it happened, and I kept going. That's it.
Why I don't call this a comebackYou never stopped. You just weren't visible. There's a difference. #grindtok #buildinpublic
🎯
Discipline & Mindset
Not motivational fluff. Just how you think about the demands of doing all of this at once. Chest cam catches it raw. #grindtok #disciplinetok
Why I don't call this hustle — it's just the scheduleHustle implies chaos. Your day is structured. 4:30 AM to 10 PM, every time. #4amclub #routine
What discipline actually looks like vs. what social media thinks it looks likeIt's not cold plunges and journals. It's running 10 miles when you slept 5 hours. #reallife #nodaysoff
The one thing that would fall apart if I stopped runningEverything. The code quality. The patience at PF. The focus at night. All of it. #runtok #runningmotivation
How I think about energy management across a 17.5-hour dayRun → PF → Code. Each block has a different energy demand. You've figured out the sequence.
What I'd tell someone who says "I don't have time"You were homeless at 20, ran a business, went back to school at 35. Time isn't the problem. #motivationtok
Rest day — what I actually do on day 7The one day you don't run. What happens. How it feels. Why it matters. #restday #recovery
WEEK 1
THE CONTRADICTION
Business owner who became an engineer. 10mi/day. Codes SaaS. Works at Planet Fitness. None of it adds up — until it does. First chest strap videos.
TikTokYouTube
Monday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run #1 — The Introduction
The Opening Move: "Who Is This Guy?"
First chest strap run video. iPhone mounted, camera rolling the whole 10 miles. At mile 3, look down at the camera and introduce yourself: 39, ran a business for 7 years, went back for CS at 35, built Widgetfied, work at Planet Fitness. Cut the best 60-90 seconds for TikTok. The POV running footage before and after you talk is the hook.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I just ran 10 miles with my iPhone chest-strapped. I recorded the whole run — POV footage, pavement, breathing, sunrise. At mile 3 I looked down at the camera and introduced myself: I'm 39. I ran a business for 7 years, went back to college for computer science at 35, and built Widgetfied — a modular widget platform for service businesses. Ordering, routing, booking, payments, AI estimates, customer portals. No platform lock-in. It's live. I also work at Planet Fitness.
I'm editing this into a 60-90 second TikTok. Give me:
1. A hook for the first 2 seconds (text overlay that stops the scroll)
2. 3 caption options — short, punchy, conversational. Not clickbait. "Who is this guy running 10 miles at 4:45 AM and building software?" energy.
3. Text overlay suggestions for key moments in the video
4. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #10milerun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #techtok #codertok #foundertok #buildinpublic #saastok #runningcommunity #distancerunning #runnerslife
Also give me a YouTube title + description for a longer 5-min "first run vlog" version of this same footage. Frame it as: business owner who became an engineer, 10mi/day, building a SaaS while working at Planet Fitness.
Record: During 4:45 AM run | Edit: Before PF shift | Post TikTok: 7-8 AM | Post YouTube: Same day
Wednesday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run #2 — The Setup
Why Planet Fitness?
Second chest strap run. At mile 5 or during cool down, talk about why you work at Planet Fitness while running a live SaaS. You're surrounded by your customers every day — restaurant owners, mobile detailers, HVAC techs, contractors. This isn't a fallback. It's field intelligence. Cut for TikTok.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my 10-mile run with the chest strap today. Mid-run I talked about why I work at Planet Fitness while running Widgetfied. Here's the real answer: I ran my own business for 7 years. I know exactly what these small business owners go through — the scheduling chaos, the wasted drive time, the "I'll figure it out later" that never gets figured out. I'm not learning about my customers at PF. I already was one.
I'm surrounded every day by restaurant owners, mobile detailers, HVAC techs, contractors, plumbers, personal trainers, landscapers, cleaning services, electricians. Their problems are the ones I already lived. Widgetfied already solves all of it — modular widgets they plug in and use.
I'm editing this for TikTok. Give me:
1. A scroll-stopping hook (text overlay, first 2 seconds)
2. 3 caption options — "Why does this guy with a CS degree and a live SaaS work at Planet Fitness?" energy
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runnersoftiktok #morningrun #4amclub #techtok #foundertok #buildinpublic #smallbusiness #saastok #planetfitness #runningcommunity #grindtok #dayinmylife
Tone: confident but not arrogant. I'm not "working my way up" — I chose to be close to the people I build for.
Record: During 4:45 AM run | Edit: After run | Post TikTok: Evening (6-9 PM)
Friday — TikTok + YouTube· Chest Strap Run #3 — The Reveal
What I Actually Built
Third chest strap run. At mile 7 when your brain is fully unlocked, talk about Widgetfied — what it is, why you built it, the modular approach. 6 widgets, 2 lines of code, no lock-in. Cut a punchy TikTok and a longer YouTube explainer with the full run footage.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today and at mile 7 I talked about Widgetfied. Here's what I said: I ran a business for 7 years and lived the exact problems my customers have — no online ordering, wasted delivery routes, manual scheduling, chasing payments. So I went back to school at 35, got my CS degree, and built the solution myself.
Widgetfied is a modular widget system for service businesses. 6 widgets: Cart & Menu (online ordering + AI dietary assistant + spreadsheet POS), Genius Router (delivery route optimization — VRPTW), Booking (with Google Calendar sync), Payments (Stripe + Venmo), AI Estimates (photo-based), and a Customer Portal. Embed any of them on any website with 2 lines of code. No platform lock-in. Free to start, $29/month for Growth.
I didn't hire someone to build this. I became the engineer.
Give me:
1. TikTok edit: Hook text overlay + 3 caption options. Make it sound like I casually explained what I build while running 10 miles at 5 AM. Not a pitch — just a guy talking to his chest cam about what he ships at night.
2. YouTube: Title + description for a "what I'm building" run vlog. 5-8 min. Full run footage with the Widgetfied explanation woven in.
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #10milerun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #buildinpublic #saastok #techtok #codertok #indiehacker #foundertok #softwareengineer #runningcommunity #runnerslife
Record: During 4:45 AM run | Edit: Before noon | Post TikTok + YouTube: Afternoon
WEEK 2
THE DISCIPLINE
The schedule. The mileage. Why running isn't optional when you're building software — it's required. Chest strap captures all of it.
TikTokYouTube
Monday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run — The Schedule
4:30 AM Club — The Real Schedule
Not motivational fluff. Just the facts. Chest strap POV of the entire run with text overlays showing the daily schedule. At the cool down, list it out loud. 10 miles minimum, sometimes 10 twice a day. 6 days a week. Let the footage speak.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my 10-mile run with the chest strap. During the cool down I listed my daily schedule on camera:
4:30 AM — Up.
4:45 AM — Out the door running. iPhone chest-strapped.
10 miles minimum. Sometimes I do 10 twice in one day.
Back by 6:30. Shower.
8:00 AM — At Planet Fitness for my shift.
Work the floor.
Home. Dinner.
7:00-10:00 PM — Code on Widgetfied.
6 days a week.
I'm editing this for TikTok with text overlays for each time block. Give me:
1. A hook for the first 2 seconds (text overlay — "My daily schedule at 39" or similar)
2. 3 caption options — factual, not motivational. "Here's when I do things" energy.
3. Text overlay suggestions timed to the schedule
4. Hashtags: #runtok #4amclub #morningrun #10milerun #runnersoftiktok #dayinmylife #routine #grindtok #techtok #codertok #foundertok #buildinpublic #discipline #earlymorningrun #runningcommunity
End energy: "It's not hustle. It's just the schedule."
Record: During 4:45 AM run | Edit: Before PF shift | Post TikTok: 7-8 AM
Wednesday — TikTok + YouTube· Chest Strap Run — The Real Talk
Software Engineering Is the Hardest Thing I've Ever Done
You were homeless for 16 months in your early 20s. You rebuilt from zero after losing everything. And software engineering is still the hardest thing. That's a statement that stops the scroll. Talk about it mid-run, breathing hard, chest cam rolling. Explain why running is essential to surviving the cognitive demands of building software.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today. At mile 6 I said this to the camera: "Software engineering is the hardest thing I've ever done. And I was homeless for 16 months in my early 20s." I talked about the sustained cognitive demand of building production software — real algorithms, real architecture, real users depending on your code — and why I run 10 miles minimum every day to stay sharp enough to code at night after a full shift at Planet Fitness.
I'm cutting this for TikTok (60-90s) and a longer YouTube video (5 min with full run footage). Give me:
1. TikTok: Hook text overlay + 3 caption options. Raw, not polished. The breathing and the running footage sell it.
2. YouTube: Title + description. Frame it as a running vlog where I get real about what building software demands.
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #softwareengineer #techtok #codertok #4amclub #morningrun #10milerun #runnersoftiktok #buildinpublic #foundertok #grindtok #discipline #runningcommunity #runnerslife #distancerunning
Record: During 4:45 AM run (still breathing hard at mile 6) | Edit: After run | Post: Evening
Friday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run — The Parallels
What Running Taught Me About Code
3 parallels between distance running and building software. Talk through them at mile 7-8 when your brain is on fire. This comes from actually doing both at an extreme level — not a metaphor you read somewhere. Chest cam catches the realization in real time.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run and at mile 8 I talked about how running and coding are the same discipline. Here's what I said:
Everyone wants the finish line photo. Nobody wants Tuesday's 10-miler in the rain at 4:45 AM. Same with software — everyone wants the launch tweet. Nobody wants to debug the same API issue for 3 hours on a Wednesday night after working a full shift.
I ran a business for 7 years before I became an engineer. Both taught me the same thing: the work that matters is the work nobody sees.
I'm editing this for TikTok (60-90s). Give me:
1. Hook text overlay for first 2 seconds — something that draws in both runners and builders
2. 3 caption options that draw parallels between distance running and software
3. Text overlay suggestions for the 3 key parallel moments
4. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #techtok #codertok #buildinpublic #runningcommunity #softwareengineer #4amclub #10milerun #runnerslife #distancerunning #foundertok #indiehacker
Record: During 4:45 AM run (catch thoughts at mile 7-8) | Edit: After run | Post TikTok: Afternoon
WEEK 3
THE FORGE
The full story: homeless at 20 → built a business → lost everything → finished CS at 35 → shipped Widgetfied at 39. Chest strap captures the raw arc.
TikTokYouTube
Monday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run — The Origin
Homeless at 20. Building a SaaS at 39.
The full arc on a chest strap run. Not a sob story — a statement of fact. At mile 5, drop the timeline: homeless for 16 months in your early 20s, started running to survive, built a business from nothing, grew it 7 years, lost everything, dad died, finished CS degree at 35, now run 10mi/day and ship production software. Let the facts + the running footage speak.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today. At mile 5 I shared my timeline to the camera:
Early 20s: Homeless for 16 months. No safety net. Started running to stay sane.
Mid 20s-early 30s: Built a business from nothing. Grew it for 7 years.
Then I lost everything. Bad relationship. Walked away with nothing.
My dad died during this period.
At 35: Went back to college for computer science. Finished my degree.
Now at 39: I run 10 miles minimum every day. I work at Planet Fitness. I ship features on Widgetfied from 7-10 PM. 6 days a week.
I'm editing this for TikTok (60-90s with text overlays for each era). Give me:
1. Hook text overlay — first 2 seconds, scroll-stopper
2. 3 caption options — factual timeline energy, not motivational speech. "Here's what happened. Here's where I am." Not "and you can too."
3. Text overlay suggestions for each timeline beat
4. End card text: "I'm not starting over. I'm starting from everything I've learned."
5. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #10milerun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #storytimetiktok #buildinpublic #techtok #foundertok #grindtok #nevergiveup #runningcommunity #runnerslife #comebackstory
Record: During 4:45 AM run | Edit: Before PF shift | Post TikTok: 7-8 AM
Wednesday — TikTok + YouTube· Chest Strap Run — The Choice
Why I Chose Engineering After Running a Business
The "chose" is the key word. You didn't fall into CS. You had a business and decided to go get the engineering skills yourself. Talk about that decision mid-run — why you went back at 35 instead of hiring devs or using no-code. Chest cam captures the conviction. Cut for TikTok + longer YouTube run vlog.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today. At mile 7 I talked about why I chose to go back for CS at 35 instead of just hiring developers or using no-code tools. The answer: I'd already run a business for 7 years. I saw what happens when founders can't evaluate their own tech. I saw what happens when you depend on someone else to build your vision. I chose to become the engineer so I'd never need permission to build again.
I'm editing this for TikTok (60-90s) and a longer YouTube run vlog (5-8 min). Give me:
1. TikTok: Hook text overlay + 3 caption options. Make someone want to watch a breathing-hard guy running and talking about why he went back to school at 35.
2. YouTube: Title + description for a "why I chose engineering" run vlog
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #techtok #codertok #foundertok #buildinpublic #softwareengineer #careerchange #learntocode #runningcommunity #10milerun #indiehacker
Record: During 4:45 AM run | Edit: After run | Post TikTok: Evening | Post YouTube: Same day
Friday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run — The Why Now
When I Decided to Stop Being Quiet
Why you're posting now after years of building in silence. You got healthier. You got stronger. You're in the best shape of your life and you shipped the best software of your life. Talk about it mid-run. The chest strap footage of you running in the dark at 4:45 AM while talking about choosing to be visible — that's the content.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run in the dark at 4:45 AM today. Mid-run I talked about why I'm finally posting after years of building in silence. Here's what I said:
I've been doing this — running 10+ miles, coding, building — for years with zero social media presence. I built a business for 7 years in silence. I went back for CS at 35 in silence. I built and shipped Widgetfied in silence.
I got healthier. I got stronger. I'm in the best shape of my life and I shipped the best software of my life. And I realized I've been doing all of this where nobody can see it.
I'm done being quiet.
I'm editing this for TikTok (60-90s). Give me:
1. Hook text overlay for the dark running footage — "I built in silence for a decade. Not anymore."
2. 3 caption options — not "I'm back" energy. More like "I'm finally showing up." Honest, not performative.
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #4amclub #morningrun #earlymorningrun #runnersoftiktok #buildinpublic #techtok #foundertok #grindtok #runningcommunity #10milerun #silentgrind #showup
Record: During 4:45 AM run (dark footage is key) | Edit: Before noon | Post TikTok: Afternoon
WEEK 4
THE BUILD
Show Widgetfied through the lens of a business owner who became the engineer. You had the problem first. Then you built the solution. Chest strap + screen recordings.
TikTokYouTube
Monday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run — The Problem You Lived
I Was The Customer Before I Was The Builder
Chest strap run. At mile 4, talk about a real conversation you had at PF — a detailer wasting 90 min on a cancelled job, a restaurant still taking phone orders, a contractor writing estimates by hand. You didn't research your market. You lived it for 7 years. Now you see the same problems at PF every day.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today. At mile 4 I talked about the people I see at Planet Fitness every day:
There's a guy who runs a mobile detailing business — drove 45 minutes to a job that got cancelled en route. Lost 90 minutes plus gas. Happens weekly. Another member runs a small restaurant — still taking orders by phone, losing tickets. A contractor spends 2 hours a week writing estimates by hand.
I didn't just feel bad for them. I recognized every one of those problems. I ran a business for 7 years. I was that guy. That's why I went back for CS at 35. Not to "learn to code." To build the solution I needed when I was them.
Widgetfied is a modular widget system — ordering, routing, booking, payments, AI estimates, customer portals. I built it because I was the customer first.
I'm editing this for TikTok (60-90s). Give me:
1. Hook text overlay — "I didn't research my customers. I was one for 7 years."
2. 3 caption options — tell the story through one of these people. Connect the problem to the specific widget.
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #buildinpublic #saastok #techtok #foundertok #smallbusiness #entrepreneurlife #runningcommunity #10milerun #indiehacker
Record: During 4:45 AM run | Edit: Before PF shift | Post TikTok: Morning
Two-part content: Screen record one Widgetfied widget in action, then on the morning run, explain what it does through the chest cam. "I built this because I needed it when I ran my own business." Cut both together for a TikTok. Full version for YouTube.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded a 30-second screen share of one of Widgetfied's widgets — [WHICH ONE: Cart & Menu with online ordering, Genius Router optimizing delivery routes, Booking widget with calendar sync, Payment widget with Stripe/Venmo, AI Estimates from photos, or Customer Portal]. Then on my chest strap run, I explained what it does in plain language at mile 6.
Widgetfied is a modular widget system. 6 widgets, each solving a specific problem for service businesses. They embed on any website with 2 lines of code. No platform lock-in.
I'm splicing the screen recording with the chest strap run footage. Give me:
1. TikTok (60-90s): Hook text overlay + 3 caption options. "I had this problem for 7 years so I became an engineer and built the fix" energy. Short, punchy.
2. YouTube (5-8 min): Title + description for a demo + run vlog. Show the widget, then explain the problem it solves while running.
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #techtok #codertok #buildinpublic #saastok #foundertok #indiehacker #softwareengineer #runningcommunity #4amclub #10milerun #appdemo
Record: Screen capture night before + chest strap run AM | Edit: After run | Post: Afternoon
Friday — TikTok + YouTube· Chest Strap Run — The Stack
How I Actually Built This — Decisions, Not Just Tools
Mid-run, talk through your tech stack — but frame every decision through having both business experience AND engineering craft. Why embeddable widgets instead of a full platform? Why Google Sheets instead of dashboards? You chose these tools knowing what matters from the business side. The chest cam POV while you explain architecture is uniquely compelling content.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today and at mile 7 I talked through my tech decisions for Widgetfied. Here's what I said:
Widgetfied is a modular widget platform — 6 widgets (ordering, routing, booking, payments, AI estimates, customer portal) that embed on any website with 2 lines of code. It runs on [YOUR STACK — Next.js, Clerk, Stripe Connect, Google Sheets integration, MobX, etc.].
I chose embeddable widgets over a full platform because business owners don't want to migrate. I chose Google Sheets integration because that's what small business owners actually use. I chose Stripe Connect so money goes directly to them, not through me.
Most engineers choose tools based on what they know. I chose tools based on what my customers need — because I was the customer for 7 years.
I'm editing for TikTok (60-90s) and YouTube (5-8 min run vlog). Give me:
1. TikTok: Hook text overlay + 3 caption options. "A business owner's tech stack hits different" energy.
2. YouTube: Title + description for a "how I built my SaaS" run vlog
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #techtok #codertok #buildinpublic #saastok #foundertok #indiehacker #softwareengineer #techstack #4amclub #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #runningcommunity
Record: During 4:45 AM run (talk through decisions at mile 7) | Edit: Before noon | Post: Evening
WEEK 5
THE PEOPLE
The humans you serve. You know them because you were them. Day-in-the-life content. Full chest strap + daily vlog series.
TikTokYouTube
Monday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run — Who This Is For
Who Widgetfied Is Actually For
Chest strap run. At mile 5, rattle off who Widgetfied is built for — match each person to their specific widget. You're not guessing at demographics. You know these people because you were one, and you stand next to them at PF every day. Fast-paced TikTok with text overlays for each business type + widget.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today. At mile 5 I rattled off who Widgetfied is for:
The restaurant owner still taking orders by phone → Cart & Menu widget (AI dietary + online ordering).
The mobile detailer wasting gas on bad routes → Genius Router.
The HVAC tech with no online booking → Booking widget.
The contractor writing estimates by hand → AI photo-based estimates.
The cleaning service chasing payments → Payment widget (Stripe + Venmo).
Any service business that can't afford Salesforce → modular widgets, 2 lines of code, no lock-in.
I know these people because I was one for 7 years. I see them at Planet Fitness every day.
I'm editing for TikTok (60-90s) with text overlays for each business type + widget. Give me:
1. Hook text overlay — "I didn't do market research. I WAS the market for 7 years."
2. 3 caption options
3. Text overlay sequence matching each problem to its widget
4. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #buildinpublic #saastok #techtok #smallbusiness #foundertok #entrepreneurlife #runningcommunity #10milerun #indiehacker #restaurantowner
Record: During 4:45 AM run | Edit: Before PF shift | Post TikTok: Morning
Wednesday — TikTok + YouTube· Full Day Vlog — Day in the Life
4:30 AM to 10 PM — The Full Day
This is the big one. Capture the full day: 4:30 alarm → chest strap 10-miler in the dark with mid-run thoughts → PF shift → dinner → coding Widgetfied at night. Cut a punchy 60-90s TikTok and a longer 8-10 min YouTube day-in-the-life vlog. The chest strap run footage is the spine of the whole video.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I captured my full day on camera: 4:30 AM alarm, chest strap 10-mile run in the dark (with thoughts at mile 3 and mile 8), working at Planet Fitness, coding on Widgetfied from 7-10 PM.
I'm 39. I was homeless at 20. Built a business for 7 years. Went back for CS at 35. This is what my life looks like now — not "after the rebuild." This IS the build.
I'm editing two versions:
1. TikTok (60-90s): Quick cuts, trending audio optional, text overlays for each time block. Give me a hook for the first 2 seconds, 3 caption options ("This is just Tuesday" energy, not hustle culture), and text overlay suggestions.
2. YouTube (8-10 min): Full day-in-the-life vlog. Title + description + chapter timestamps. Frame it as a run vlog meets founder diary.
Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #dayinmylife #morningrun #4amclub #10milerun #runnersoftiktok #grindtok #techtok #codertok #buildinpublic #foundertok #runwithme #earlymorningrun #runningcommunity #ditl #vlog
Record: Capture clips all day | Edit: Next morning | Post TikTok + YouTube: Next afternoon
Friday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run — The Conversation
What Someone Actually Said to Me at PF
On the morning run, retell a real conversation (anonymized) from PF. A business owner describing a problem that Widgetfied already solves. You didn't pitch him — you just listened. Because you remember saying the exact same thing. The chest cam captures you processing it mid-run.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today. At mile 6 I told the camera about a conversation from PF yesterday:
A guy said: "[QUOTE ABOUT HIS BUSINESS PROBLEM — ordering, scheduling, routing, payments, estimates, customer tracking]." I didn't pitch him. I just listened. Because I remember saying the exact same thing when I ran my business for 7 years.
He doesn't know I'm a software engineer. He doesn't know I built a modular widget system that solves his exact problem. He just knows me as the team lead who runs 10 miles before his shift.
I'm editing this for TikTok (60-90s). Give me:
1. Hook text overlay with his quote (anonymized)
2. 3 caption options — reveal the layers. I'm not observing his problem, I'm remembering mine.
3. Name the specific Widgetfied widget that solves what he described
4. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #buildinpublic #saastok #techtok #foundertok #smallbusiness #planetfitness #runningcommunity #10milerun #storytimetiktok
Record: During 4:45 AM run (bring yesterday's PF conversation to the run) | Edit: After run | Post TikTok: Afternoon
WEEK 6
THE LOOP + EXPAND
Recap, lessons, numbers. Then restart the cycle with fresh stories — and expand to LinkedIn + Instagram.
TikTokYouTube
Monday — TikTok + YouTube· Chest Strap Run — The Stats
6 Weeks of Showing Up: By The Numbers
Chest strap run. At mile 5, share real metrics — TikTok followers, YouTube subs, video views, Widgetfied website visits, whatever you have. If numbers are small, own it. You ran 6 weeks of content the way you run 10 miles — by showing up. Cut for TikTok with text overlay stats + longer YouTube recap vlog.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today. At mile 5 I shared my 6-week content numbers:
[FILL IN: TikTok followers, YouTube subscribers, video views, Widgetfied website visits, trials, DMs, whatever you have]
Some numbers are small. Some surprised me. I also ran approximately 360 miles during this period (6 weeks × 6 days × 10 miles). The running and the posting have the same rule: consistency beats intensity.
I built a business in silence for 7 years. I went back for CS in silence. I built Widgetfied in silence. This is what 6 weeks of being visible looks like.
I'm editing for TikTok (60-90s with stats as text overlays) and a longer YouTube recap vlog. Give me:
1. TikTok: Hook text overlay + 3 caption options. Real numbers, no bragging, no apologizing.
2. YouTube: Title + description for a "6-week content recap" run vlog
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #buildinpublic #contentcreator #techtok #foundertok #grindtok #runningcommunity #10milerun #growthupdate #saastok
Pull stats Sunday night | Record: During Monday 4:45 AM run | Post: Monday morning
Wednesday — TikTok· Chest Strap Run — The Recap
What Changed in 6 Weeks
Chest strap run. Reflect mid-run on what's different. Did the fear of posting go away? Did the rhythm feel natural? This is the video where you announce: "I'm expanding to LinkedIn and Instagram next cycle." The running footage with this announcement = powerful TikTok.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run today. At mile 7 I reflected on what's different now vs 6 weeks ago when I started posting. The main thing: [WHAT CHANGED — less fear, found my voice, people actually responded, built a rhythm, etc].
I'm also announcing I'm expanding to LinkedIn and Instagram in the next cycle. Same chest strap content, same energy. Just more places.
I'm editing for TikTok (60-90s). Give me:
1. Hook text overlay — "6 weeks ago I'd never posted a video. Here's what happened."
2. 3 caption options. These should feel like a checkpoint, not a finale. I ran a business for 7 years, rebuilt my life, finished a CS degree at 35. Six weeks of content is nothing — I'm just getting started.
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #buildinpublic #techtok #foundertok #contentcreator #runningcommunity #10milerun #grindtok #growthupdate #milestones
Record: During 4:45 AM run | Edit: After run | Post TikTok: Evening
Friday — TikTok + YouTube· Chest Strap Run — The Restart
Back to Week 1 — New Stories, More Platforms
Chest strap run. Announce the cycle restarts with fresh content from 6 weeks of new runs, new PF interactions, new Widgetfied features. You're expanding to LinkedIn and Instagram. The cycle continues. The running never stops. Cut for TikTok + YouTube "what's next" vlog.
AI PROMPT — Copy & Paste
I recorded my chest strap run. At mile 8 I announced:
I just completed a 6-week content cycle: Week 1 (The Contradiction), Week 2 (The Discipline), Week 3 (The Forge), Week 4 (The Build), Week 5 (The People), Week 6 (The Loop). Now I'm going back to Week 1 with 6 weeks of new stories — new runs, new PF conversations, new Widgetfied features, new miles.
I'm also expanding to LinkedIn and Instagram. Chest strap runs, build updates, the same content that lives on TikTok and YouTube. More places to find me.
I built a business for 7 years in silence. I'm not doing that again.
Give me:
1. TikTok (60-90s): Hook + 3 caption options. Leveling up energy, not starting over.
2. YouTube: Title + description for a "what's next" run vlog
3. Hashtags: #runtok #runningtiktok #morningrun #runnersoftiktok #4amclub #buildinpublic #saastok #techtok #foundertok #grindtok #runningcommunity #10milerun #newcycle #levelup #contentcreator
Record: During Friday 4:45 AM run | Edit: Before noon | Post TikTok + YouTube: Friday evening
Cycle 2+ — Platform Expansion Strategy
TikTok + YouTube are home base from Day 1. Chest strap run content is native to both platforms. After 6 weeks of dialing in the format, expand based on data.
Complete all 6 weeks, then return to Week 1 with fresh content. Each cycle deepens your story, grows your audience, and expands to new platforms. iPhone chest strap → run → spit thoughts → edit → post to TikTok + YouTube. You ran a business for 7 years. You got a CS degree at 35. You run 10 miles a day. You built and shipped a modular widget platform for service businesses — ordering, routing, booking, payments, AI estimates, customer portals. Free to start. Now let people see it. The AI prompts work every time — feed them your raw run footage transcript and direct the output with your depth. The chest strap POV is your signature. The run is the content.