Alexander Nemethy runs 40 to 50 kilometres each week. He takes one day of rest -- sometimes Monday, sometimes Wednesday, depending on how he feels.
Nemethy was pretty much born to run. His parents, Brian and Wanda, were his major influence because they were always in their shoes, pounding the pavement or trotting down trails. So, even at a young age, he'd go out too. Eventually though, Nemethy found he was running simply because he loved it.
He's now 15 and his passion for putting one foot in front of the other has led him to his best season to date as a member of the Prince George Track and Field Club.
"I'm just putting in a lot more time training than in the past," said Nemethy, who lives in Vanderhoof but has been part of the PGTFC program for eight years. "I've gotten a lot faster since last year."
Two weekends ago, Nemethy won a gold medal and two bronze medals at the Jack Brow Memorial track and field meet in Kelowna and set new personal-best times in all three races. With a clocking of six minutes 11 seconds -- a full 21 seconds faster than his previous record -- he was golden in the 2,000-metre run. In the 1,200m race, he stopped the clock in 3:31, a PB by four seconds. And, in the 800m distance, Nemethy ran a time of 2:11 and was right on the heels of the second-place finisher. In that race, Nemethy sliced eight seconds off his previous PB.
Nemethy was most satisfied with his 2,000m race. In it, he beat rival David Walker of Smithers to the line by about four seconds.
"We're very similar," said Nemethy, whose five-foot-11, 130-pound frame is perfect for running. "At the previous track meet [in Smithers] he came in just ahead of me, just out-sprinted me. This time, I got him. This time, I went out faster and ran each lap faster and harder so that at the end we'd be more tired. I just ended up having more endurance and so I lasted a bit longer and came in ahead of him."
To date, Nemethy's other major accomplishment this season was a bronze medal in the 3,000m race at the BC high school track and field championships in Burnaby. In a field of Grade 8 and 9 boys, he stepped across the finish line in 9:32.42, which became his new personal-best result. For Nemethy, who has now finished Grade 9 at Nechako Valley secondary, the bronze was his first medal at the high school provincials.
"I'm really happy with that -- that was a very tough event," he said. "I hang all my medals up in my room and this one is definitely one of the ones I'm most proud of."
Nemethy is coached mainly by his dad. But, during his once-a-week practices with the PGTFC, Brian Martinson works with him. Martinson said all of Nemethy's training -- plus the fact he's a cross-country runner in the fall and a cross-country skier in the winter -- has made him into the formidable endurance athlete he is.
"He's quite dedicated [to running]," Martinson said. "That's the difference between him and some of the kids who don't progress as well. They try to do too many sports, and not Alex. I think he's going to do quite well. I'm sure he'll stay with it too."
Eventually, Nemethy would like to earn a college or university scholarship in track and field. In his more immediate future, he's hoping to make Team BC for the Legion national youth championships in the 2,000m run. Nationals are Aug. 17-19 in Charlottetown and the qualifying meet is Friday to Sunday in Coquitlam.
To advance to nationals, Nemethy needs a top-two finish and a time in the six-minute range -- about 11 seconds faster than his current PB.
"I might make it, I might not -- we'll see how it goes," he said.
"I'd have to go about two seconds faster per lap, which isn't that much."
