fdweedfs wrote:
15 min 1500m for men.
The WR for long course 400m freestyle is almost identical to the mile WR. More swimmers are able to achieve this mark but the training intensity needed is similar. In swimming, fewer athletes are limited by their body's inability to withstand brutal workloads without being injured so more athletes develop their fitness to the highest level possible. I know several talented runners who, had they been able to handle truly elite workloads, without succumbing to injury, would have definitely given sub-4 a scare.
I guess what I'm saying is that the LC 4 min 400m is a more attainable goal than the 4-min mile, but the training effort required to reach it is similar. A 14:59 1500m, by contrast will have a swimmer in the running to make the Olympic finals. There's no way that a 3:59 miler is even running the 1500m Olympic 'B' standard.