Need to build muscle, but I want to be a runner.

I’m (22M, 5’8, 150lb, 27% BF) getting back in the gym after a couple years. I’m textbook definition of skinny fat. The priority is to build muscle but I recently developed a desire to complete a marathon, starting by working towards a 3K and building up from there. However, everyone is saying to avoid intensive cardio because it’ll hinder muscle growth and keep me skinny fat. How do I balance this?