John Nugent was a prominent Upington optometrist who died of cancer 2014. He dedicated his life to eye-care in the region and his legacy is continued through the work done by the John Nugent Memorial Eye Care Foundation. All proceeds from this event go towards the prevention of blindness in the Northern Cape

The two-lap route promises the best of Upington with stretches along the Orange River, vineyards, pecan orchards and scenic suburbs. Bring your all surface shoes because you’ll be running on farm roads, jeep tracks and tarmac. Although this is a flat course, there is a nasty heartbreak hill towards the end of each lap to make sure you earn your unique medal which is in the format of a pair of spectacles. 

You’re able to choose from a variety of distances to suit your current level of fitness, with the marathon being a qualifier for the Comrades and Two Oceans Marathons

The John Nugent Marathon (Upington: The Final Frontier) by Stuart Mann