question for all you awesome runners

I recently started running. I am up to three miles in right at 30 minutes. I have two goals, I would like to complete a half martathon and I would like to become faster. So what should my training be right now? Should I up my miles or should i stick at the three miles and push myself to become faster?

Increase your mileage. You won't be able to do effective speed work without an aerobic base to support it. As your mileage increases, you will become a more efficient runner and you will see natural speed gains. After you have a consistent base for a few months, then you can start introducing quality to your workouts, like tempo runs, strides, intervals, fartleks and an LSD.

I saw little to no pace increases once I hit a certain point until I mixed up my workout routine.

I was running pretty much every night I worked out (six days a week) because I wanted to get faster and go further. But once I hit about a 10 minute mile, where you already are, no matter how much I ran and ran, I couldn't break that average.

Once I started following a training schedule that mixed up my workouts, I found my pace just naturally increased week over week without even feeling like I was trying to increase my pace. I used Hal Higdon's plans. First his 10K plan while I was getting ready for a 7K and then a 10K. And then used his half marathon plan as the basis for the training for the half I ran on April 8th.

My week looks like this:
Monday - full body strength, three sets/heavy/to breaking on most lifts, usually about an hour total time.
Tuesday - mid-length run, distance depends on training schedule but anywhere from 3-6 miles.
Wednesday - cross train, anything but straight running. For my half I alternated between fartleks and hill training since my half was in SF. For other races I do either ARC or Step Mill. But it can be any cardio that isn't plain running.
Thursday - same strength workout as Monday, 2-3 mile run
Friday - rest
Saturday - cross train, almost always ARC trainer for me
Sunday - long run, increases by one mile each week until race distance, then drop distance for taper week the week prior to the actual race

By doing this I've increased my strength, endurance, and pacing. I just finished a 12K on Sunday at my fastest overall pace average, and that was with about a half mile walking bit in the middle. (it was the Bay to Breakers and I wanted to take in the sights of the costumes and crowds while in an area perfect for viewing both in front and behind me) But it means I paced out really well on all the bits where I was actual running if my overall average was still a personal best.

Just keep building more miles. Your speed will improve on that alone. Once you have a solid foundation, then you can go to speed work.

Another vote for increase your mileage.

yep, up the mileage.

i'm a pretty new runner too (and i'm slow), but i've gone from an average 15 min mile to a 12 min mile over long distances (and about 10 1/2 min mile over short). i never did any fancy workouts- i just kept running further.

bump for later!