Increasing milage as a new runner

Variance ie a multi pace strategy is best. Try to carry as little weight as possible. Have a framework that works for you. Take note, you will get running injuries best to plan for them now, look at your weaknesses. Don't worry too much a mileage, focus on quality and slow improvements. Incrementally increase your milage. Iron out your technique (this too can cause injuries as you are shifting the stress load). Enjoy yourself.

I do vary my pace, with a nice mix of quality workouts, recovery and easy days. My paces are are steadily improving all the time.

I'm not overweight at all. My form is good. I know I'll get injuries.... but that's not really what I asked........

Is it safe/normal to be at 65 mpw in 8 months?

Hitting 60 mpw after 8 months starting back could be fine. If you're smart about it, no problem.

But what is your running history? You took years off, which will affect your return. But depending on your body type and years spent training, it might not be a big deal for your body to get back to a lot of running.

I think the big thing is to just listen to how you're feeling. Maybe you get into the 60s in 10 months or 15 months. Great. Maybe you get there in 7 months, and that would be cool, too.

I have actually been doing something similar to you, and I found that getting to mid-40s was no trouble at all. But getting into the upper 50s and 60, I definitely started to notice more. I'm guessing it will take me as long or longer to comfortably go from 45 mpw to 65 mpw as it did to go from 0 to 45 mpw. But we'll see.

That makes sense. I was just wondering because I saw a thread where someone was talking about going from 60 to 90 mpw over 6 months and someone replied that adding 30mpw in only 6 months is a recipe for injury and they hope the person likes being injured. I didnt think that jump didn't sound like much, so it got me questioning my understanding.

I was at about 35 mpw for 2 months and I jumped to 40 and immediately got itbs. I took a week off, stretching it out, doing strengthening exercises and I started back up and it seems to be a non issuse. But it made me question if I'm doing too much

I think that is the kind of vigilance you need to have when monitoring your body and upping mileage.

But the fact that something popped up so soon in the early stages of increasing might answer your question about how feasible it will be to run in the mid 60s mpw after just 8 months.

There was probably more to it than just the milage jump. It really started pouring rain hard the same week I increased my milage. I feel like running while completing soaked and cold (and admittedly, not warming up all that great) could make for a tight IT band.