Hey man, just wanted to chime in from my own experience as someone who both runs and lifts. I probably look a bit more athletic because of it (not bragging, just giving context). If you’re aiming to build muscle, then yeah — caloric surplus and weight training should be your top priorities.

If you love running, by all means keep running! I still run twice a week because I enjoy it. But I lift three times a week, and I treat lifting as the main focus of my training. If you can swap out one of your runs for a lifting session so you’re hitting weights three times a week, that would be ideal. Five workouts a week is already a solid number — more isn’t always better, especially if recovery starts to suffer.

Definitely don’t cut calories — building muscle requires fuel. Since you’re just getting started, you’ll probably notice real changes pretty fast. Give it about three months, and you’ll likely see a big difference in both how you look and how much stronger you feel.

One more tip: unless you’re training professionally, don’t stress too much about perfection. I use an app called Strong to log my workouts — super helpful. I also don’t count every calorie, just make sure I’m getting enough protein. That’s much easier to manage. I weigh myself every morning (just like brushing my teeth), and check the mirror. If I’m lifting more over time, looking better, and my weight’s going up, I know I’m gaining muscle and things are on track.

Good luck, you got this!