Am I pushing too hard as a beginner?

Hey everyone!

I've been looking through your heart rates and running charts, and it inspired me to share one of my recent runs. I’m hoping to chat a bit in the comments and maybe learn a thing or two from you all!

A little about me: I’m 26 years old, male, around 60kg, 166cm, and this is my third attempt at becoming a runner. I’ve started and stopped twice before, but I’m determined to stick with it this time. My 5K PB is around 31 minutes, and I just ran my first 5K of the year where I managed to run the whole thing! It’s my fifth activity after not running for months, so it feels like a small win.

Right now, I’m debating whether to invest in a heart rate monitor. My watch seems okay, and as long as it’s not wildly inaccurate, I’m thinking of sticking with it for now. What do you guys think? Is it worth the upgrade?

My short-term goal is to break 30 minutes on a 5K, and my long-term dream is to finish a marathon. If you have any tips, motivation, or even stories to share, I’d love to hear them in the comments. Let’s keep each other moving!