The vast majority of “2020: Total Clarity” takes place on the streets of New York, one marathon at a time.

For five days every week, we will walk the 26.2 mile marathon distance around the five boroughs of New York - a total of 131 miles/week. Each week is a pre-planned route designed to take us through every neighborhood in the city. As we progress, subsequent walks will be themed around the varied landmarks, histories and cultural touchstones New York has to offer.

Why walking? On reflection, we came to the following conclusions:

  1. Walking is the intersection of environment, community and actual reality.
  2. Walking defines the New York experience, and New Yorkers set the standard for pace.
Week 52 route

One calendar year, 255 marathons and these last five to go. The project culminates Sunday, June 20th with a day-long wedding march around Brooklyn and a ceremony at Marine Park. Note: The 5.5 miles missing from the marathon length will be made up in walking around the Marine Park and Gerritsen Beach region.

Library Brooklyn Public Library - Kings Bay Branch, 3650 Nostrand Ave, , Brooklyn, NY 11229
Week 51 route

Our penultimate walk has the distinction of being the only one to touch all five boroughs. The same can be said of this week's focus: the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. This route visits memorial sites in all five boroughs - some grand and others understated. Note it is the only route to use transit during the course of the walk (the Staten Island ferry) though the walking distance of 26.2 miles is still maintained.

Library New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building 476 Fifth Avenue
Week 50 route

In New York City, professional sports is as popular a conversation topic as pizza or the weather. Home to some of the greatest dynasties and underdog stories alike, we'll tackle three boroughs this week to visit their home fields. We start at the Barclays Center to visit the Nets and Islanders, then cross the Manhattan bridge to visit "The World's Most Famous Arena," Madison Square Garden, home to the Knicks and Rangers. Next is a long walk to the Bronx to visit the world's most successful professional sports franchise, the New York Yankees. We conclude with a trip to Queens to visit those lovable losers of Citi Field, the New York Mets.

Library Mott Haven Library , 321 East 140th Street , Bronx, NY, 10454
Week 49 route

Our last movie-focused walk is also our first in our home stretch of special walks covering multiple boroughs at a time. Here we draw inspiration from the 2002 Spike Lee film "25th Hour" and the Edward Norton monologue contained within called "F*ck New York." In it, Norton's character Montgomery Brogan rails against the people and neighborhoods that make this city what it is. We'll visit as much as we can of the soliloquy, from Chelsea to Wall Street, Bensonhurst, Alphabet City and everything in between.

Library New Amsterdam Library , 9 Murray Street , New York, NY, 10007