The dream of the sub 20min 5k

In my early 20s, I ran a sub-20-minute 5K, averaging a pace of 4/ 4.5 minutes per kilometre. My level of fitness was amazing looking back now. At the time it felt incredible to be able to push my limits and hit that goal, and it’s something I’ve always looked back on with pride. However, in the years since, balancing adult responsibilities—working a full-time job, starting a new family, working on creative projects, getting married, studying and becoming a dad—has made running almost an afterthought. Between the demands of career, family, and life in general, finding time for consistent training has become increasingly difficult.

But now, as I approach my 30th birthday in 2025, I’ve decided it’s time to refocus. One of my main goals for the year 2025 is to get back to running more consistently and, ideally, hit that sub-20-minute 5K again. It’s ambitious, I know, but it’s a challenge I’m eager to take on. It’s not just about the time; it’s about reclaiming that sense of achievement and pushing myself to be the best version of myself—physically, mentally, and as a role model for my family.

This week, I got a hilarious (and slightly devastating) reminder of how much I still care about those numbers. After a recent run earlier this week, my Strava app gave me a false notification that I’d hit a sub-20-minute 5K. For a moment, I was over the moon, convinced I had pulled it off out of nowhere. As I checked the details of that particular run I realized the data had glitched and the time was completely off. The actual time was nowhere near sub-20 and I was crushed. It was a funny, bittersweet moment, but it only motivated me more to keep working toward my goal.

By my 30th birthday, I’d love to stand at the start line of a 5K race, confident that I’ve put in the work and can cross that finish line with a time I’m proud of (Hopefully sub-20 minutes). Balancing everything in life will still be a challenge, but it’s one I’m ready to take on with renewed energy and focus.

If there are goals that you wish to achieve in 2025 then start now. It is never too late to get started with goals that you’ve set for yourself in the past. I have so many more plans for 2025 but as I have relearned with my running; it is done one step at a time.

Cheers for now!

Euan