The problem is, even those individuals that are reasonably fit and spend alot of time in the gym can't expect to compete with runners who have been trimming their 5K times for years. There really is a huge gap between those who think they are fit and those that can run a decent 5K time..........you'll find that out if you try and keep up with the leaders!
My pride was stung several times when I came from a background of gym work, boxing and martial arts training. The best local runners will be years and several minutes ahead of you over 5K whatever you do over the next few months. There is a huge gap between the fitness levels of those who are 'gym fit' and those who have been running and competing locally for years.
I'd say the best strategy you could use for fast results would be to simply run a fast 5K time trial every week and practice even pacing every KM. When I was starting out with running I would start races too fast and blow up. Perhaps start with a pace of 5 mins per KM and see how you do. Then drop say 20 seconds every KM each week till you find out what level you are currently at.
I'd build up your weekend run to exceed 5 miles....but do that run at a very easy conversational pace. Doing a high effort time trial mid week is a more injury prone strategy, but honestly I've found that in the initial stages of becoming a runner young folk respond well to fast hi effort work rather than building up a base of long slow miles.......which is the usual recommended route.
I'd drop any muscle building exercises that you do in the gym and keep to hi rep toning exercises. But I'd drop a few weekly sessions in favour of a few other easy runs, perhaps with a few fast bursts. Let yourself recover the day after your time trial.
I'll probably get some stick for my recommendations. I currently follow a sensible weekly training plan, but I did thrive early on from running hard time trials at pace. I'm convinced it gave me faster results early on than a diet of slow easy paced running would have done.