Question for all you jogging experts please.

I have to back up the comments on barefoot running - I just bought yet another pair of Vibram Five Fingers last night, on clearance from REI for $60. I LOVE barefoot running - I used to have a lot of back pain when I run and now it's GONE!

Ok, now that I'm done plugging that, some advice:
-Please please please do NOT stretch BEFORE running!!!! Have you ever put a rubber band in the freezer and then tried to stretch it? Want that happening with your tendons? Use "active" or "dynamic" stretching before workouts, such as arm swings, jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, etc. You can find plenty of suggestions and videos online. The point is to use motion to warm up your muscles, with a gentle stretching component. After you've worked out and your muscles are all warm and pliable, THEN do static stretches.

-Since you're running on a good surface, it's more likely that you're doing too much too fast. Try doing a little less, and frankly if they're hurting this bad right now, you might try just walking for a while to give them a break.

-Since you are already already having problems, try getting a roller for your shins. Again, plenty of info and videos online.

-This suggestion is from reading, not personal experience, but apparently shin splints can also be caused by too long strides. So maybe try taking shorter steps? Again, it's hearsay, but I read that if you want to increase your speed, you should increase your turn-over rate (number of steps) rather than your stride length.

Hope this helps! Feels better! :flowerforyou:

I would echo the two posters above and say that form is the most important issue when avoiding pain while running. I haven't looked at the websites they suggested, but I'm sure that would be a great place to start. Also, I don't know if England has public libraries like here in the states, but try and read "Chi Running" by Danny Dreyer. He's an ultramarathoner that often wins his age group. He has a website, too (chirunning.com).

Shoes are important, but the main thing is that they be comfortable. Really high quality shoes like everyone here is suggesting might lessen the pain, only to have it show up somewhere else. If your form is poor and the shoes allow you to run comfortably with poor form, they can actually increase your chances of injury.

I used to get a lot of shin splints about 15 years ago. As I continued to run, they eventually went away. What I believe was causing them was putting my feet down heel-first. Are you striking with your heel first and then the rest of your foot? If so, that forces the small muscles on the front of your lower leg to lift your foot repeatedly for the entire time you're running. That's a lot of work for little muscles. Instead, if you try and land on the balls of your feet, you won't be working them out as much. You will also be lessening the impact to all of your joints. This is the benefit to barefoot running that the above posters have mentioned. If you try and strike with your heel first when barefoot it will hurt so bad that you'll have to stop doing it. Really good shoes will allow you to continue striking heel-first comfortably and you will continue to get shin splints.