Plenty of people have trouble hitting the gym just three times a week. But for 61-year-old Diana Nyad, exercise isn’t just a chore – it’s a dream.  At 7:45 last night, Nyad jumped into the water and began the 103-mile swim from Cuba to Florida.

For nearly two years, Nyad has been training to set a record for open-water swims without a shark cage (the very fact that shark cage is even mentioned has me squirming with fear!).

“I’m almost 62 years old and I’m standing here at the prime of my life,” Nyad said as she walked towards the sea. “I think this is the prime. When one reaches this age, you still have a body that’s strong but now you have a better mind.”

Nyad announced yesterday morning at a Havana news conference  that she planned to enter the water at Havana, Cuba’s Marina Hemingway.

“We’re going to get started tonight,” she said. “As you can probably tell, I’m pretty nervous. My adrenaline is flowing, but I’ve been training for two years.”

For Nyad, the swim has been a lifelong dream. She attempted once, almost 30 years ago, but didn’t complete the trip.“All my life, I dreamed of being the first one ever to swim across without a shark cage.” She noted that when she turned 60, chasing the dream came back to her mind.

On Sunday, she said, “The joke is the 60s are the new 40s, and it’s true… When  walk up on those shores of Florida, I want to prove to the AARP crowd that it’s not to late to go back and write that book or adopt that child.”

The swim was originally planned for last summer, but was called off due to bad weather, and Nyad continued training.

As for safety – six ocean kayakers will be by Nyad’s side through the journey, towing electronic Shark Shields that emit a harmless but annoying electrical impulse that repels most species of sharks. Shark safety officers will also be on hand – people trained to distract any creatures that get too close to Nyad. A team doctor will be tagging along on board to monitor Nyad’s hydration and nutrition and to tend to any bites or stings from jellyfish.

CNN wll also be following Nyad on her journey, and a boat of Nyad’s friends is expected to join for the last several hours of the trip.

Nyad is undaunted and confident of her trip: “I am a better athlete today than I was at 29,” she told CNN.

To follow Nyad's trip, check out her Twitter

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Tags: diana nyad, cuba, florida, shark cage, swim, 103 miles
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