On a warm summer day in Pontiac, Aaron Barnett, 36, laces up his running shoes and checks his route.
The miles ahead are more than a workout. As Barnett runs from street to street, he travels through time — past historic buildings, along roads named for people and places and through neighborhoods that hold stories of struggle, resilience and pride.
By October, Barnett hopes to have run on all 765 streets in Pontiac, covering roughly 400 miles by his estimate.
What began as a creative way to pass the miles while training for a fall marathon in Indianapolis has evolved into something far more meaningful: a personal mission to tell Pontiac’s story, one run at a time.
Barnett began running on the streets of his hometown in June at his brother’s suggestion. He started recording videos along the way, using each episode to explore a different piece of Pontiac’s history. His running tour offers a perspective that can be easy to miss when the city is reduced to headlines about its challenges.
“People see the bad-news stories about Pontiac, but what they don’t know is that this city has a rich, complicated history,” said Barnett. “Pontiac was on the front lines of the battle against segregation and racial strife. Today, the city is full of hardworking Americans who want the best for themselves and their families.”
For Barnett, the project is personal.
He discovered running in 2017 after realizing his lifestyle was taking a toll. Like many people, he had fallen into a routine of mindless eating, fast food and weight gain. Looking for a way to reclaim his health, Barnett did not ease into it. He went all in, embracing distance running and a vegetarian diet.
Nine years later, he is 70 pounds lighter and says he is in the best shape of his life.
“I needed a stringent plan to stay locked in on a goal,” Barnett said. “Once I commit to something, I’m a maniac.”
That determination is on full display as he tackles Pontiac’s streets — sometimes as many as 25 in a single hour. But the mileage is only part of the story.
Along the way, Barnett highlights significant buildings, explains how streets got their names and introduces viewers to the people who helped shape Pontiac. He talks about the leaders who guided the city and about the residents whose contributions may not have made the history books but nonetheless left an indelible mark.
Pontiac’s past is complicated, but it is also filled with examples of people who stayed, persevered and fought to make their community better.
It is history told not from a classroom or textbook but from the pavement. And Barnett believes knowing that history matters.
“Pontiac natives need to have a seat at the table and be part of the city’s revitalization,” Barnett said. “We all want to feel a renewed sense of pride and dignity for Pontiac. We’ve been here, we’ve stayed and we’re invested.”
With every step, he is reminding people that Pontiac is more than its challenges — it is a city with roots, memories and people who still believe in its future.
So he keeps running.
Street by street. Story by story. Mile by mile.
By the time Barnett reaches his 765th street, he will have completed more than a marathoner’s training route. He will have traced a living map of Pontiac — one that connects the city it was, the city it is and the city its residents still believe it can become.
Learn more about the Pontiac Redevelopment Project and subscribe to updates by visiting OakGov.com/DowntownPontiac.
Runner Aaron Barnett sits atop Pontiac High School. 
Barnett running along a residential street. 
Barnett stands in front of t. Vincent de Paul Church. 
Barnett sits by a mausoleum at Oak Hill Cemetery. 
Barnett poses in front of the Webster Community Center. 
Barnett poses in front of St. Damien of Molokai Parish. 
Barnett poses in front of the Stuffed Bun restaurant. 
Barnett poses at a small park at Stockwell and North Saginaw streets.
Invested in Pontiac
My Role
I’m a Pontiac native and marathon runner.
Why Pontiac
“People see the bad-news stories about Pontiac, but what they don’t know is that this city has a rich, complicated history.”
Why I’m Invested
“Pontiac natives need to have a seat at the table and be part of the city’s revitalization. We’ve been here, we’ve stayed and we’re invested.”
How I’m Contributing
I’m running on Pontiac’s 765 streets while highlighting the people, places and stories that shaped the city.
See Me in Action
Check out my Facebook page.
Interesting Fact
I began running in 2017, and I’ve participated in 11 marathons.
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