Can anyone with a bit of running experience help me out.

[peanutter]

I feel a bit caught between a rock and a hard place ... walking on flat surfaces just isn't as good a workout, walking on flat surfaces uphill gives me shin splints and going on grass or sand causes me to spend the entire time watching the surface to avoid rolling an ankle!

This (combined with my concerns about getting rained on or sunburnt) generally means I just go to the gym and work out there

No excuses at the gym!

[Hunter Mum]

I found my shin splints improved after I got some orthotics from my local physio. They recommended i didn't spend the hundreds of dollars getting custom made ones but instead purchased some off the shelf and they heated them to mould to my foot a bit. Much cheaper and certainly helped.

I also was told by my foot/ankle surgeon to run on the road as opposed to the concrete paths. Apparently it is less impact because of all the little grooves in the road around that allow your shoes to absorb some of the impact - if that makes sense?

Also icing after a run and don't over do it, build up your running slowly and listen to your body.

Good luck, I LOVE running!