You Won't Believe Where Diana Nyad is Swimming For 48 Hours Straight

Diana Nyad, a 64-year-old professional swimmer, isn't backing down from another extreme challenge: swimming for 48 hours straight in a pool in the heart of midtown Manhattan.

Swimming for Superstorm Sandy relief efforts, Nyad is doing laps in a 42,000 gallon, 120-foot long pool set up at Herald Square at the corner of 34th St. and 6th Ave. She began at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday and plans to swim continuously until that time on Thursday.

Nyad first came to the national spotlight in 1975, when she swam around the entirety of Manhattan — an incredible 28 miles. In 1979, she then subsequently swam from the Bahamas to Juno Beach (102 miles).  Earlier this year, on her fifth attempt, Nyad successfully recaptured international attention when swam from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida (110 miles) without the aid of a shark cage. I guess it would just get in her way.

Nothing like a 64-year-old woman swimming between nations to remind you just how out of shape you are.

According to WABC, Nyad will be joined by "Olympic gold medalists Nastia Liukin and Ryan Lochte, comedian Michael Ian Black, Richard Simmons, Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola, Joe Manganiello, Nikki Reed, other celebrities, members of the FDNY and many others."

Coincidentally, the PolicyMic offices happen to be a block away from Herald Square. Editors Tom McKay and Sara Yasin went and took some photos. We'll return for an update later in the evening and tomorrow to see whether Nyad is still at it: