Blind man completes marathon with help of smart glasses

By James Gamble

A man has become the first person ever to run a full marathon with the help of volunteers guiding him through his smart glasses.

Clarke Reynolds completed the Brighton Marathon using an app which allows people around the world to see his perspective and guide him on his run.

The 45-year-old artist donned Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses connected to Be My Eyes, which also utilizes artificial intelligence, to complete his run.

Through wearing the glasses, as well as occasionally being supported by a volunteer who ran with him, Reynolds became the first blind person to complete the race using the special specs combined with the app.

The Braille artist, who goes by the professional alias of Dot, completed the 26.2-mile course in just under six hours and 20 minutes, raising over $3,250 for charity Fight for Sight.

"I’m absolutely over the moon — we did it," an elated Reynolds said after completing the race on Sunday, April 12.

"I am now the first blind person to run a full marathon while being supported by volunteers using smart glasses and Be My Eyes.

"My aim in doing this was to really push the boundaries of what this technology can do for me as a blind person, and I’ve done that.

"I love the idea that up to 300 people from all over the world — from Croydon to Kansas and Belfast to Bahrain — helped me to achieve it.

"The potential of this technology for people with sight loss is incredible.

"It’s opening up a whole world of opportunity, and more and more people are using it in their everyday lives. There’s so much to be hopeful about."

Reynolds, an experienced runner who has previously completed the London Marathon with a guide, was this time guided by a succession of preselected volunteers.

These volunteers, based across the world, were able to see what was in front of him through his glasses via the Be My Eyes app on their smart device or laptop.

These guides were therefore able to join Reynolds' run remotely in real time, supporting and encouraging every step of the way along the marathon route through Brighton.

However, as a backup safety precaution for this groundbreaking challenge, trained guide runner Alaistair Ratcliffe also ran alongside Reynolds to be on hand during any difficulties.

Although Reynolds, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, was able to use his tech for almost all of the route, broadband connectivity was lost on a few occasions due to the sheer volume of people at the event.

During these moments, Ratcliffe — who was provided by The Richard Whitehead Foundation through their Supported Runner Project — stepped in to guide him safely until connection was restored.

Artist and children's author Reynolds has only 5% of his vision, having inherited the retinitis pigmentosa condition, meaning his vision is “like looking underwater.”

He took on his remarkable marathon challenge to raise funds for charity Fight for Sight, for which he's an ambassador.

Among those sponsoring Reynolds was TV presenter Victoria Coren-Mitchell.

Be My Eyes typically connects blind and low-vision users with volunteers from anywhere in the world.

But the new in-app feature Be My Eyes Groups, which allows users to create private, dedicated volunteer circles, has recently been made available on Meta AI glasses.

Prior to the marathon, Reynolds’ volunteers were carefully selected and briefed, ensuring he could always reach familiar, prepared supporters whenever he required assistance.

Reynolds added: “I was free to safely put the tech to test in this very unusual way.

"I had a backup guide runner running alongside me all the way, in case of any problems, so I’d like to say a massive thank you to the brilliant Alaistair, who did that for me.

"As well as all the amazing volunteers who supported me and cheered me on through the Be My Eyes app on the day and throughout my training.

"They’ve really kept me going on this incredible journey. It’s been one of the best experiences of my life!

“By running a marathon and using the tech in a way that hasn’t been done before, I’ve raised awareness and sparked so many conversations, which I hope will help to challenge society’s ideas about what blind people can do."

In the weeks leading up to the marathon, Reynolds could be seen pounding the streets around his home in Havant, training every day guided by Be My Eyes volunteers.

Throughout his weeks of training and the day of the marathon, he was supported by around 150 individual volunteers through the app.

Describing his training, Reynolds said: “I have 10 seconds to say, ‘Hi, I’m Clarke, I’m training to run a marathon.'

"[The volunteers] are expecting me to ask, 'Where is the soup?' or 'Help me to a shop,' so they're pretty blown away when I say I’m training for a marathon.

"Some volunteers have even offered to sponsor me. I love making the connection with people, telling them about why I’m running, and about Fight for Sight’s work.

"They are always really interested and love being part of something so out of the ordinary. We chat as I run."

Julie Sutton, a Be My Eyes volunteer, presented Reynolds with his medal at the finish line, which the runner then presented to backup guide runner Ratcliffe.

Reynolds raised more than $3,250 for charity Fight for Sight, which funds research into eye conditions as well as funding nationwide support projects.

Eleanor Southwood, the charity's director of impact and external affairs, said: "We are so proud of Clarke. What he has achieved is extraordinary.

"We are so grateful to him for his support and to everyone who has so generously sponsored him, raising over $3,250 for Fight for Sight."