Shin splints. They are every runner’s nightmare. They are the aching reminder that stays with you for days after a long run. They even ruin the short runs. What can be done about them?

I hadn’t has issues with shin splints in the past, but when I first ran 6 miles while training for my most recent marathon, they hit me hard. Shin splints are one of those things that, even if you have never experienced them, you know exactly what’s happening when you feel it. It’s a “Ohhhh THIS is what they feel like!” moment. At least, it was for me.

Even though I iced my shins plenty post-run, I was still in a considerable amount of pain the next day. My trainer friend Kylie recommended using a foam roller to put pressure on my shins. It worked really well, but I wanted a preventive measure that would protect my shins while running. Obviously I turned to my trusty adviser, Google.

I saw that people have had success with compression sleeves in preventing shin splints. I did a bit more research and found that a recommended brand is Zensah. Although they were slightly pricey (the price listed on Amazon is only for one sleeve, not a pair), they seemed worth the investment.

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And (drumroll please) goodness gracious, they were worth EVERY penny!

I wear them for every run, and I haven’t had shin splints since. I still ice my shins after long runs just to be safe, but they have absolutely changed my life. I highly, highly recommend them for any runner who is having issues with shin splints.

They go through the washer and dryer just fine, which is great and makes for easy cleaning. I don’t wash mine after every run, and I wouldn’t suggest it either, just to preserve the product, but you can still wash them fairly often without issue.

And BONUS: I’m boring and bought the black sleeves, but they actually come in so many fun colors!

The only (read: only) downside to these is the potentially gnarly tan lines they can leave post-run…especially if you tan as easily as I do. If you’ve heard a rumor that I purchased sunless tanning lotion to get rid of those tan lines for Monica‘s wedding, you’ve heard the truth. It happened. The lady at Target was only slightly confused when I started inquiring about sunless tanning lotion…but hey, it worked (temporarily).

Ps. It’s really hard to take a picture of your own calf. Don’t try this at home.

But honestly, the tan lines are nothing compared to the nuisance caused by shin splints, so I’ll take it.

(Don’t want to take my word for it? Check out the reviews on Amazon!)

Question(s) for you:
Do you have shin splints? How do you remedy them?