Can't make any suggestions specifically for the shin splints but I used to work for an orthopaedic surgeon and his recommendation for hamstring pulls was to run backwards. Also, if you have a problem with a joint or a muscle group, you can often end up aggravating another joint or muscle group in the same limb by trying to compensate for the first problem.

Couldn't hurt to try a few short stretches of backwards running to loosen up the hams. Might not fix the shins, but at least they wouldn't have the tight hams to work against.

Deb