Eek! Shin Splints or Stress Fractures?

Okay, here goes:
I'm training for my 3rd marathon right now.  Its highly possible that new shoes will help me (planning on getting a pair this week, but the current ones are from June or early July- and I run 30-45 miles/wk).  Anyhow, pretty much during the entire course of my training from April-now I've had bouts of problems with my shin areas. 

Generally I can feel a dull pain throughout my day, and during runs the first few miles the pain/annoyance is noticeable, but tends to lessen towards the ends of my runs.  Last week I only ran on Wednesday and Sunday, after doing a long run of 18 miles the week before.  I really feel that I can't/won't take any more time off.  

My marathon is Nov 22nd and I do not want to skip my planned 20 miles for the next two weeks.  I just ran a 1/2 marathon on Sunday in 1:45, my best time by about 6 min, and I am hoping to PR in the marathon around a 3:50 (or faster) pace.  Part of me feels like rest could make me do even better, but another part makes me think I'll lose the fitness I've built up.

Does this sound like shin splints to you?  Will I do a lot of damage if I don't stop running?  Help me please :)

It sounds like the beginning of shin splints if you don't do some thing. I think in trying to make better time, you are overstriding and put a lot more stress on the splints. Try to up your cadence and shorten your stride a little.

Yes, it sounds like shin splints. BUT! you should investigate all other possibilities before continuing to train at the same level. Even if it is just shin splints, most trainers/doctors will tell you you need to at least back it off. Even if you miss your marathon, which I know would suck, do yourself a favor and take care of this sooner rather than later.

I started feeling sore after any run longer than a couple of miles back in March. In my case, my shins would be slightly sore if I applied pressure to them. I never had any pain during my runs, and there was no single spot that was particularly tender to the touch. I tried backing off on my mileage - didn't help. I tried taking two weeks off, which worked until I got back up to ~2 miles. I tried taking two weeks off again, and going really slowly to build back up (like starting at running 1/2 a mile in run/walk increments). Finally, I went to see a doctor - NOT because the pain was increasing (it wasn't) but because friends and family told me I should. Three weeks, two x-rays and a bone scan later, I learned that I have two stress fractures in my left tibia. I haven't run in three weeks, I won't run at all for at least another two, and I'll have to start essentially from scratch, again. Bottom line - I never gave my body adequate time to heal, and it's held me back for 9 months.

Go see a doctor, even if it doesn't hurt that bad. See if you can find someone with experience in sports medicine. I wish I had done so back in March, instead of wasting my time trying not to stop running entirely. I didn't have most of the common symptoms of stress fractures, but I got them all the same.

Could be shin splints.  That's a lot of running for sure.  A bit of rest probably won't hurt that much, especially in preparation for your up coming 20 milers.  It may even help your time!  Try rubbing some caspazin (spelling) cream into the shin areas, it may help.   

I have had issues that felt like chin splints and it turned out to be my lower back was out of wack, after going to the chiropractor and a massage I felt back to 100%.  If the pain decreases during a run my guess is that you have tight muscles that you need to loosen up.  Try doing extra stretching and now would be a perfect time to get a massage.  Out of all my marathons all but one I have had a massage about a week before and it has helped so much to work out all the tired and sore spots so I'm lose and ready for my marathons.

Thanks for the advice everyone!  I am defintely trying to be better with my stretching from now on, as much as I'm not a fan of it!!  I'll also look for that cream utahjoe.  Any idea what type of ingredients it has to help?  Cfelton- I've never had a pre-marathon massage, just post.  Maybe I'll see if my parents would subsidize that for me :)

Sounds pretty normal to me :-)  You are putting in some high mileage!  You might consider slowing down a little bit.  Definitely monitor and make sure it doesn't get worst, and remember.  Ice is your friend!  (think ice bath after those long runs)  :-)

It's made from cayenne pepper...again spelling, i suck at it, it's supposed to help with swelling and pain.  Be carefull it can burn though...i found it at walmart, and it was reccomended to me by a physical therapist.  It helped a ton....