My First Hurdle: Shin Splints. Any Advice?

Yesterday I set out to continue my running. I planned on taking it a bit easier than I had been in the past few days but I didn't expect needing to walk my way home.

From the moment I set out from my home I could feel something just wasn't normal. My legs were sore and heavy, and i just couldn't keep up my regular pace. But no worries, I would just slow it down a bit. After all, any run is better than none!

My plan was to run to my brothers house (1.4 Miles) and get him to run back to my house with me. We have done this a few times and it serves as a great motivational tool. Which keeping up with a running schedule can always use some good motivation! By the time I got to his house I was in pain. My legs felt like they were breaking out from under me. And on top of it all, my brother decided not to run with me. So after a few minutes of calming down and stretching, I headed home. Only to find myself walking about half the way home because my shins hurt so bad I couldn't bring myself to even jog.

I have dealt with this sort of pain before. When I first started running it was something I learned to deal with. But then it usually went away after a day or two and didn't really hurt until after I was done running. Yesterday's pain was a bit different than that.

So I turn to you, the running community. What are some ways to prevent and deal with shin splints? I already stretch before and after (sometimes during) my runs.

Any help or advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated! 

My First (Recorded) Run!

Well here we are, my first run. 


Today I repeated the track that I have been doing for the past week or so. It is a pretty easy run. The only part of it i don't like is the crossing of a bunch of roads, one of them a pretty major one. But hey, why try to explain it to you when i can just show you?

Brought to you by Cardio Trainer

As you can see I ran 3.74 miles in just under 30 minutes. I know i'm not breaking any records with that time, but it makes me happy knowing that not even 3 months ago a single mile at a slower pace would have had me on the ground! 

I am trying to map out a new path that will be a little bit longer and just as easy to navigate. But until then i will just keep at it with this path and try to bring my time down. I will probably step it up next week or near the end of this one.