Anne, Typically, most runners get shin splints because they do too much, too soon. This is usually due to the fact that they didn't do the offseason training. By running in the off season, the calf muscles don't go through a sharp increase in the workload all at once. Like crash training of going from zero to sixty in a couple of weeks. Add to this the over motivation one has when starting over. Consistancy is the real key to staying healthy. Because of your friends stress fracture, she was unable to stay consistant with her training, and was most likely unable to take enough time to gradually work back into a general sense of fitness. Typically, she would need to take the winter off to heal, then use the spring to get back into basic running fitness, and then use the summer to regain her running speed and strength entering the fall ready to go. By jumping into track so soon, it shows a runner's greed (or need) to get back into the fray as soon as possible. This does tend to lead to injury. In a lot of cases this type of injury is usually one to the knee or to the shin. About the only way to work into a track season, without a base, and still be able to avoid injury like shin splints is to stay away from any plyometric exercises (jumping) or real speed work (anything 400 meters or less). Really anything that would lead to being on the front part of your foot will lead to overdevelopment of your calf muscles. Which by itself is not a problem, but by being done so quickly, the front part of the leg (anterior tibial muscles) are still to weak to balance the work load. Remember basic physics - for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This reaction is the overstretching of the shin muscles to counter balance the workload of the rear leg muscles (calf). That is what leads to microscopic tears in the sheath of the shin muscle, what's known as shin splints. The easy way to treat them is simple. Rebuild the shin muscles to help pull the work load. That's where the lifting drill we used to do came in. Or the partner stretches. Although this should be done prior to injury, it's never to late to strengthen this typically weak area. Ice and anti inflamatories should help the pain, but once injured, it's only time that will really help. Let's face it. Runners have time. There's lot's of time to put in the proper build-up. One just has to have the confidence to take the time. Loni had problems with her IT band this season. Right before the first scheduled meet. It took her away from running for four to five weeks. When she came back, we started her out easy, and resisted the temptation to throw her into the same workouts the rest were doing. Even now she's doing workouts that the others were doing four weeks ago. If she attempted the same workouts she'd probably end up with another injury. She's still been able to jump back into racing with single races, and one's with less of a pace (3200 meters - her first in 12:45, and her second in 12:33 - hopefully she can run close to going under 12 this weekend. Bill