I have two ways to prevent shin splints:

(1) Run on soft surfaces -- tracks, grass, trails, but no pavement, asphault, or concrete.

(2) Wear shoes that force your toes to crimp with every step, such as flip flops or open-backed shoes like clogs. This strengthens your shins, which I think prevents shin splints.

I have never heard of speed or super long distances affecting shin splints, unless of course they are done on hard surfaces.

Thanks for the pointers. The reason that I associate fast speeds with my shin splints is that they tend to appear only when I'm running pretty quickly. Since the track isn't open every time I need to run amd the gym is open even less, there really isn't any alternative to me running on pavement some of the time. :-(

I don't know how the roads are in SA -- if it's a road with a sidewalk on both sides, then that's what it is. But although I do a lot of my training along the road, but I try to do as little as possible on the road -- if you just run on the dirt to the left of the pavement, it is much better for your body (shins, knees, everything) and then you only have to run on the pavement occasionally (when there is a side road or driveway, when you turn, when the shoulder drops off, when there is a puddle).

The roads on campus all have curbs and no sidewalks, and it's not very possible to run on the grass on the side of the road, because it's generally at a 45 degree angle. I already have enough problems with my ankles...