Clarke Reynolds has only 5 percent of his vision remaining, but he has a clear vision for the future: completing the Brighton Marathon on April 12, 2026. In a world-first for competitive running, Reynolds will use Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses paired with the Be My Eyes app for remote navigation.
A Diagnosis That Couldn’t Stop the Passion for Running
Known in the art world as “Mr. Dot,” Clarke Reynolds has been battling progressive sight loss for years due to a rare genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa. This retinal degradation has left him with just 5 percent functional vision. Reynolds describes his current visual experience as being “underwater,” where he can only perceive faint outlines, shadows, and occasional colors.
The turning point came 13 years ago when doctors ordered him to surrender his driver’s license immediately. Despite the devastating news, Reynolds refused to give up his passion for sports and creativity. He eventually turned Braille into a unique form of art. As an ambassador for the Fight for Sight foundation, he regularly visits schools to prove that a disability does not mean the end of an active life.
While Reynolds completed the London Marathon three years ago, he did so using a traditional tethered guide. He admitted that the experience was challenging, as it required constant synchronization with another person’s stride. Now, through modern innovation, the British runner aims to achieve a much higher level of independence while covering the 26.2-mile distance.
Replacing the Tether: How the Technology Works
For his upcoming race in Brighton, Reynolds will wear Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses integrated with the Be My Eyes mobile app. This pioneering setup allows a live feed from the glasses’ built-in camera to be streamed directly to volunteers in real-time. Through integrated speakers, the runner receives voice instructions regarding the course topography and potential hazards.
The system is activated with a simple voice command: “Hey Meta, be my eyes.” Volunteers, seeing from a first-person perspective, alert the marathoner to obstacles like parked cars or trash cans. While this technology has primarily been used for simple household tasks, Reynolds’ start will be its first extreme test in a sporting environment.
According to Fight for Sight, the volunteers assisting Reynolds have been carefully selected and trained to ensure his safety over the 42.2 km course. Reynolds emphasizes that this technology is incredibly liberating, allowing him to run at his own pace without the physical restriction of a tether. This solution opens entirely new possibilities for the blind and visually impaired community in amateur sports.
One Hundred Volunteers Across Four Continents
Preparations for the Brighton Marathon have been underway for months, utilizing an innovative global collaboration model. Reynolds trains by running 1 km loops around his home—a route he knows by heart. More than 100 volunteers have already participated in his remote training sessions, including individuals from Jordan, Thailand, Canada, and the USA.
Beyond the technical support, the connection with volunteers serves as a powerful motivator; Reynolds refers to his helpers as personal “cheerleaders.” The conversations held during his runs help him push through physical fatigue and build bonds with people who often have loved ones with visual impairments. Despite his full confidence in the technology, a backup physical guide will be present on the course to intervene in case of hardware failure or connectivity issues.
The athlete from Havant is also running for charity, aiming to raise £2,000 for sight loss research. So far, he has raised over half of that goal, with supporters including TV presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell. Reynolds aims to finish the marathon in under six hours, hoping to inspire the next generation of children with disabilities to chase their dreams.
The Future of Technology for Visually Impaired Athletes
The success of Clarke Reynolds’ project could mark a turning point for computer vision in mass-participation sports. While human volunteers currently handle the image analysis, Reynolds believes that a fully autonomous AI assistant could serve as his guide in the future. This innovative approach to breaking barriers demonstrates that physical limitations can be effectively overcome with the right digital tools.
