{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/35669120-6056-4c38-8f33-80df7112e8df/6aad54db0521dc2c81100c8a?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Why is Ironman so popular? - The Sunday Story","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/61ba0e441a8cbeb3393cf13c/1789744330772-e27b45d3-c35e-4b54-a2ba-ffc19f36d621.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Ironman ultra-triathlons demand competitors swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles, and then run a full marathon, paying upwards of $1000 for the pleasure. It’s not everyone’s idea of a perfect Sunday, but for its growing base of devotees, it has become almost like a religion. So how did the sport grow from its low-key Hawaiian roots to a money-making global phenomenon? And what drives people to push their bodies to the limit?</p><p><br></p><p><em>This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: </em><a href=\"http://thetimes.com/thestory\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>http://thetimes.com/thestory</em></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Read by: </strong>Rick Broadbent, sports writer, The Times.</p><p><strong>Producers: </strong>Harry Stott.</p><p><strong>We want to hear from you - email:</strong> <a href=\"mailto:thestory@thetimes.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">thestory@thetimes.com</a></p><p><strong>Read more: </strong><a href=\"https://www.thetimes.com/sport/athletics/article/1000-for-140-miles-of-suffering-in-the-rain-why-is-ironman-so-popular-kc2vk60rh\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">$1,000 for 140 miles of suffering (in the rain) — why is Ironman so popular?</a></p><p><strong>Photo:</strong> Getty Images.</p>","author_name":"The Times"}