As per Ben, try the Salomon range of boots - much lighter and designed around fell running type shoes. I have the GTX 3 season boots and they are really light and comfortable - in fact they are the most comfortable boots I have ever had.
I feel your pain - I used to suffer with shin splints really badly.
My mate is a physio and told me that it was to do with weak glutes and upper leg - same as 'more snail than hare' said.
I rested until the pain subsided, used ice packs and ibuprofen, changed my trainers and started doing the lunges and calf raises and clams - also when I started to run again I wore support bandages and was careful to not do too much too soon. It worked, not had them since (although not ran since Feb due to different injury!).
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Beth Roberts
