
Hi to all the new runners! Jump on in!
lixximajig: Good luck on your 10K training! You have time before July to prepare. Runnersworld.com and halhigdon.com have great beginner training resources and plans and may give you ideas on how to ramp up your mileage for your race. The rule of thumb is to not increase your mileage by more than 10% per week, to give your legs a chance to adapt. And it works well to designate one running day per week as your "long run" day, and extend that one gradually up to your race distance, rather than to try to run longer every day.
sws19: Great job on the 5K! I knew you could do it!

Another word for "high intensity interval training" in running is speed work! Running faster intervals is the way to get faster at running. You'll definitely burn more calories in a shorter period of time. But, you can't maintain the intensity for long, so those sessions do need to be shorter. Also, speed work stresses the legs more, so don't want to do it every run, or you risk injury again. Cross training like swimming or biking can give you cardio benefit (and great calorie burn) without the impact. If you really want to get your butt kicked, then get on the step mill! And I'm a big fan of strength training anyway, I believe that is very important for injury prevention .. that and stretching, and rest days.
icandoallthings6613: I like your screen name.

I prefer Thorlo socks, which are wicking socks that are designed for running with padding in the right places. There are thick/thin varieties, low cut, high cut, etc. There are other brands that are good too, I've just found they work well for me. They aren't cheap, but they do last a good while. You want to be sure your socks are the wicking type (NOT cotton!!), and that you try them on with your running shoes to make sure the fit is right. Blisters can also be caused by improperly fitting shoes, so if the socks don't fix the problem, that may be it.