"It will be a massive physical challenge battling with the heat, altitude and distance. But motivation for this is that I will be supporting the Masaka community through local charity projects and I am trying to raise $2000 for this," Cox explained.
After the marathon she will spend time helping with the charity projects and this could include anything from helping to build a school, teaching, sports coaching, planning or putting her accounting skills to use. Also while in Uganda Cox will do a safari to see some animals and this will include a trek to observe gorillas.
With her insurance work, marathon training and charity work it's obvious Hawke's Bay's 2006 Sportsperson of the Year is no longer involved with surf lifesaving.
"It's a bit hard to do surf lifesaving in London because of a lack of a beach ... and I don't really fancy doing board training on the Thames," quipped the 2006 world ski race champion and member of the 2012 New Zealand team which won the world championship in Adelaide.
However, Cox and her fiance Brad Lawson, a former surf lifesaver with the Lyall Bay club in Wellington and fellow chartered accountant, have visited surf lifesaving clubs in the Cornwall region.
"They even let us borrow some skis to use and it was awesome to go out for a paddle. It's great to be on the other side of the world and to be able to rock up to a surf club and feel like you are back home," Cox said.
Last year she supported the New Zealand Black Fins in Montpellier, France when they won the 2014 world championships.
"There are a lot of things I miss about surf lifesaving but the opportunity to travel and see more of the world has been great so far. To be honest there are a whole lot more things that I have managed to experience over here in London like travel and competing in other events," Cox said.
Despite this Cox still enjoyed reeling off her surflifesaving career highlights which began at the age of 15.
"The first year I remember it was all about getting qualified as a lifeguard, socialising and learning how to paddle a board and a ski. From the age of 16 the competitive side of surf lifesaving captured my attention. I enjoyed the challenge - all the preparation and planning that goes into competing to meet goals and hopefully make representative teams.
"Chris Swain was and still is a great coach. He supported me throughout my sporting career, even when I moved away to university in Hamilton and to work in Wellington. The other coaches who were really influential and supportive for me were Mike Lee of Napier Aquahawks, New Zealand Ironman legend Cory Hutchings and New Zealand coach Scott Bartlett," Cox recalled.
It was no surprise when she listed her 2006 world title and 2012 Adelaide trip as her international highlights. Her national level highlights included her first gold medal in the under-16 girls beach flags in 2001, the Ohope nationals in 2008 and making the board rescue final with her sister Olivia in 2013.
"We caught an awesome wave and finished fourth."
Cox is looking forward to the Mallorca Half Ironman which will also be a first for her hubby to be.
"It's probably going to be a race between the two of us," she said.
In July Cox will tackle the swiss alpine half marathon and Lawson will compete in the full marathon version of the same event. Her best time for a full marathon is 3hrs41m and for a half 1hr31m.
Cox and Lawson will get married in December in Hawke's Bay.
-Here is the link to Cox's fundraising page: http://www.inspiredescapes.com/fundraising/nikki-cox
