High Arches and Shin Splints

As is probably typical, when I first started running, I tried to become a marathoner over night. I did way too much, too soon, and suffered every injury in the book. This included achilles tendonitis, shin splints, hamstring issues, and the like. With some added strength training and rest and recovery, I was able to overcome most of my issues... except shin splints.

After about a year and half of battling shin issues, I grew a brain and went in for a gait analysis. It turned out I was running in the wrong shoes, but the real root of my problem was high arches. Not just a little high. I leave one of those funny footprints you see in the cartoons with the ball of your foot and five tootsies, and then a little round mark for a heel... with nothing in between. With each strike, my foot would collapse to the inside, and stress the tendon and muscle from my ankle, up my calf. My shins (on the inside) would continually be sore and very tender to the touch.

The best shoes I have found are Saucony Progrid Triumph, with Arch Mold inserts. Arch Molds are the best thing since sliced bread! As soon as I started using those, my shin splints resolved within six weeks, and I haven't had any issues since (about a year and half or so).