Completing that first 5k is a major moment in every runner’s life. It’s usually one of the first times you start to feel like a runner – when the work you’ve put in to get out there and train regularly finally starts to feel like it’s paying off.

But as the number of people running has increased, so has the pressure to hit specific time and distance goals. These goals have always been a part of running – a sub-two-hour half marathon, for example, has long been held up as the gold standard – but what used to be a pressure only felt by the most dedicated runners has now become universal. And in the case of 5k runners, that’s the 30-minute goal set out as part of the Couch To 5k programme.

The only problem? As round and satisfying as the 30-minute goal may be, it’s not achievable for many of us – especially when we’re just starting out. And new data from Strava, shared exclusively with Strong Women, proves exactly how true that is.

FYI: the average 5k time for women in the UK is nowhere near sub-30 minutes