As my goal is to help you get up, get out and run some, I am going to be tackling some of your questions as often as you send them to me.
If you would like your running question answered, shoot me your questions via email to RunSomeContact [at] Gmail.com. I will be answering your questions in posts to come.
Today’s question(s) come to us from Sandra who found us via the Expert Enough guest post titled How to Run a Marathon and Live to Tell the Tale.
What is a good running routine for a sporty novice runner like me? Would you say 3 km twice a week or 5 km once a week? When would you ramp it up a notch? Sorry, turned out to be 3 questions 
Thanks for the question Sandra!
From Sporty Novice to Ahead of the Pack Runner
When I first started running over 5 years ago now, I knew nothing about running and a lot about weightlifting. I routinely benched 300+ lbs. and curled 65’s with ease. I was the furthest thing from a runner for being so fit. As you noted being a sporty novice runner, I wanted to show that anyone can go from novice to pretty-darn-good.
How I transitioned from solely in the weight room to a mix of both was to jump full on into such lifestyle. I would lift weights 3-4 times per week (rotation of 1 day lift then 1 day off lifting) while mixing in different distances anywhere between 3-5 miles. I would run 4-5 times per week depending on my work schedule. All of this was probably a little much, but I was a 21-22 year old college student who had plenty of energy to burn off.
My suggestion to you would be to start going to your aerobic classes you mentioned in your email every other day and on the other days go out for a run. for example, if you go to 3 aerobic classes in a week, run 3 other days and take 1 day completely off.
In regards to distance, I say forget about it completely for now. For now, just enjoy running. I know this sounds furthest from reality, but going out for a run every other day for the next month or so will allow you to feel like running is less of a chore and more of an enjoyable experience. Too often, we focus on hitting distances, pace times, and other goals. And too often, people give up on running altogether because they “have to” run 5 miles today.
For the next month, when you head out the door for a run, just start heading in a safe direction and turn around or loop back when you feel like it. Don’t worry so much about the destination. Just enjoy the journey.
To answer your last question, I’d say to give yourself a month of running this often before setting any goals. After that month, if you feel like challenging yourself, then sign up for a race or set a goal. Make it simple so that you don’t sabotage your progress.
I hope that helps Sandra!
If you folks have other questions, don’t forget to send them to RunSomeContact [at] gmail.com.
(Image from here)
Thanks for stopping by Run Some! I hope you are enjoying the running advice and experience with the rest of the crew. 
Hi David
thank you so much for answering my questions here on your blog – very helpful indeed
I’m glad you said that I should focus on enjoying running rather than counting times & distances.
I think that really takes the pressure off, which will help me to establich some continuity with my running.
Hopefully I’ll find some nice running routes near me. I have tried the running machine in the gym but I didn’t get on with it very well.
What is your view – do you only run outdoors?
Thanks again for your support
Sandra
Hey David,
I’d like to say 3 things in one comment if you’ll permit me…
First of all I love your blog, the whole idea and this post in particular – great idea to turn a readers question into a blog post – even if just for that one reader it shows that you care about engagement which from what I’m learning is HUGE and seems to separate the better bloggers from the rest (in my view).
Secondly I actually came across your site on MDBP and thought I’d drop by and say Hi and leave a comment. On that subject, in order to help out fellow MDBPers I invite you to leave a comment here and get a free backlink to your site and also to your latest article – there is quite a discussion going on already and the purpose of me starting that discussion was to try and identify a small number of like-minded MDBPers, particularly those with similar ideals & blogs to mine who can help each other out, share the experience and perhaps collaborate in some way.
Lastly, I like the idea of enjoying running but am terrible at it and every time I’ve tried never ever got to the enjoyment stage – am I a lost cause or would you say that evenyually it’s something that everyone enjoys (I have to say, though I love the idea of enjoying it, it seems like hard work to me – though I do love walking, trekking, climbing, golf, skiing and biking as long as it’s not uphill),
I do hope you will stop by and say Hi, but if not, congrats and best wishes for your own wonderful blog,
Alan