That ELLE Running Club, they have all the fun, don’t they (well, if you can call an ultramarathon fun). Training together, doing a bit of team bonding as they jog around London's parks.

Well, feeling a bit left out, one ELLE staffer, who has a dodgy knee and can’t run, decided to set herself her own challenge: a long-distance swim.

Yes, ELLE’s Chief Sub-Editor/Production Editor, Fern Ross, has taken the plunge (sorry LC, but we couldn’t resist the pun) and entered herself into the Sport Relief Swimathon.

Established in 1986, the Swimathon is a nationwide swimming challenge that has raised over £40 million for charity. This year’s event is taken place from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 March 2014, and swimmers of all levels can take part at their local pool.

Fern will be keeping a training diary for the next 10 weeks, full of nutritional tips, the best new kit, and much more.

What are you waiting for? Sign up! It’s a great way to get fit, especially if you’ve had an injury. Plus, there will be lots of hot, toned, semi-naked men around. If that wasn’t incentive enough, we don’t know what is…

The Details

What: Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Swimathon

When: Friday 21 to Sunday 23 March 2014

Where: Hundreds of pools across the UK

Distance: 1.5km to 5km, which you can do as an individual or as a team

Fit Factor: 2/5

Why We’re Swimming: Because non-runners love a challenge too!

Race Mantra: In it to win it

Run it: Register online at swimathon.org

Watch it: This race welcomes spectators. Line the route or welcome the finishers at Cassiobury Park

Support it: Tweet us some encouragement on race day at @ELLEUK or @fern_ross

Find out more: Visit swimathon.org or sportrelief.com now

Want to join the ELLE running club? Click here