As far as athletic accomplishments go, few are held in higher regard than completing an Ironman triathlon.
The amount of training required to tackle the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26-mile run that make up the course, as well as the expensive equipment required to train in the first place, means that only about 50,000 people in the world complete a full race and earn the title of Ironman every year.