Strengh training for runners

I'm doing the Hal Higdon 10K novice training plan so its slightly different to yours but it basically goes:

Monday: Stretch and Strengthen (so some time spent doing stretches - I do yoga - and some strength work
Tues: Run - 4k
Wed: Cross train 30 mins (I swim but you can cycle, swim, whatever)
Thurs - Run 3k and then strength train
Fri: Rest
Sat - 40 min cross train (building to 60 min over the 8 weeks)
Sun: Long run - starts at 5k and builds up to 10k over 8 weeks

I really like it - I've done plans where it is just running and always managed to injure myself in some way or other - this makes more sense to me and I don't get bored with running. I don't do it on the days it says, my long run was today, tomorrow is stretch and so on.

For strength work I use New Rules of Lifting for Women and do the workouts twice a week. Its not as good as doing it 3 times but I'm training for a race in May so need to focus more on building my distance - I'll work to heavier lifting in the summer. I go to the gym, but I also have weights at home and work with them. You will NOT bulk up by strength training with barbells and dumbells - it won't happen, not unless you take some testosterone and eat like a monster - so don't worry about that. You also won't looks like Jillian Michaels unless you have her parents and genetic makeup but she has the kind of body you get if you strength train and lift heavy - she didn't get that body waving 3k weights around

I lift heavy and I run.

This time last year I had some issues with pain in my knees, but weighted squats and lunges have made my legs stronger and therefore improved my running and I have no knee pain. I lift 4 times a week, and I would love to have a bit more visible muscle, but despite some people telling me I would get bulky lifting, I have yet to see any evidence of that.

I will also be running my 1st half marathon in September.

I would recommend either following a plan like New Rules of Lifting for Women or get a PT, I went with the latter and have not regretted it.

Bump

I lift heavy and run. I'm doing strong-lifts 5x5 modified to 3x5.
Training for a 1/2 marathon and spartan sprint.

I lift 3 times a week. I'm having difficulty with squats and distance runs. I did c25k about 3 years ago. I'd love any advice on that.

What I want to do, I have young kids so it never goes as planned.

M - strong lifts A (30 min)
T - short run 3-6k
W - Strong lift B (30 min)
Th - short run 4-8k
F - strong lifts A (30 min)
S - rest
Sun - Long run 6-11k

Thanks for the replys,

I'm not scared of getting bit or anything like that, as its physically impossible and because I have been overweight, being bigger due to muscles will be very welcome!

I don't think I can afford a personal trainer but I am going to buy the new rules for lifting.

The main thing is not wanting to just do cardio, i feel quite weak if that makes sense? I want to be as strong as I can be.

I completely understand what you're saying, its why I'm so pleased with this new program (new to me) I got fed up with just doing cardio and never feeling any stronger really, just able to run for longer before collapsing :-) But I ALWAYS get to about 8k and then I've damaged my knee/pulled a quad badly/had a lot of pain in my ankle/pulled a ham etc etc - its made me think I can't run, but I think now that its because I'm running but not training properly if that makes sense?