The 15-year-old distance runner may already hold the Australian under-16 record for the 3000 metre event but his sights are set on future goals.

The teenager is one of thousands of Canberrans who will line up for the Australian Running Festival next month hoping to clinch a personal best.

When he's not studying at Melrose High School you'll find the young man training with the Australian Institute of Sport dreaming of Olympic glory.

"I'm feeling pretty confident about the race and hope to improve on last year's performance where I came out a little too quickly – I wasn't happy with that," he said.

"One day I'd like to make it to the Olympics as a marathon runner as I have always enjoyed the longer distance events, mostly because I am better at them."

Joshua is a regular at the running festival and clinched the title in 2013. A year earlier he finished ninth in the 10km race about 3min behind first-placed Gemechu Woyecha.

"Before a race I just focus on what time I want to finish the race and then tell myself that I can achieve that," he said.

But not everyone has to follow the pace set by Joshua with fun runs on offer along with a half and full marathons.

But if you're competitive when it comes to running, you're not alone. Mr Torley's younger sister is competing in the 5km and the teenager admitted it would be "very embarrassing if she beat me".

Joshua's father, Paul, is also involved in the running community having founded the Australian Junior Running Academy, which offers scholarships to talented local young runners between the ages of seven and 23

The 2015 Australian Running Festival features the Adidas 5km and 10km on Saturday, April 11, and the half-marathon, marathon and ultramarathon on Sunday, April 12.

The festival hopes to raise $250,000 this year for more than 250 charities with more than $860,000 in the coffers with 13 days until race day.

For event information or to enter, visit runningfestival.com.au.