Highley Varlet 2020: Total Clarity - New York City, One Marathon at a Time

Highley Varlet and "2020: Total Clarity" on The Today Show!

With the walking portion of our project now concluded, this site will persist as an archive for all aspects of "2020: Total Clarity," our 7,000 mile, 260 marathon walking journey around New York City from June 2020 - June 2021. If you're just visiting for the first time, here is a clip from our appearance on The Today Show profiling our adventure:

Please take a look around the site to learn more about the walk routes, our seasonal clothing collection, the companion podcast series, and much more.

For all other completed and ongoing subprojects of "2020: Total Clarity," including our widely publicized NYC bagel review project "Everything Is Everything," visit our linktree page and follow along via Instagram and YouTube.

Week 24 route

The first in our series of musical walks focuses on the odes to Manhattan's streets and neighborhoods. We'll hit everywhere from the Manhattan Detention Complex to the neighborhoods Across 110th Street exploring the inspiration for some of New York's most famous songs. Acts covered include The Jim Carroll Band, Bobby Womack, Joni Mitchell, Bobby Rodriguez y La Compañia and many more.

Week 23 route

Part two of our Queens coastal conquering starts with a significant hike before we even hit water, crossing through Glendale, Rego Park and the middle of Flushing Meadows Park. We pick up the start of Flushing Bay and reconnect with the East River at College Point, following to Beechhurst and the base of the Throgs Neck Bridge. The return trip takes us through Murray Hill, Forrest Hills and Woodhaven on the way to the J train home.

Week 22 route

This walk starts a two week quest to tackle the north shore of Queens. Crossing through Blissville, we border Newtown creek before meeting the East River and heading north through Hunters Point, Dutch Kills and Astoria. Taking a right at Ditmars Steinway, we hit the tip of Willets Point and head back down through the meat of the borough.

Week 21 route

This week we take the long march to Fort Totten, a preserved civil war naval fortress on the north shore of Queens. A sweep through Kissena Park marks our trip there, while our returns route gives us an in-depth look at the marshy Alley Pond Park. A turn west leaves us at Jamaica for the train ride home.