Shin pain with running

Usually not, but the distinction matters.

Shin splints ache along a long stretch of the inner shin, several fingers' width, and ease with rest. A stress fracture hurts in one small spot, hurts when you hop, and often hurts at night. If your pain is the size of a fingertip, come in.

Something in the load changed.

New runners, a sudden increase in distance, a change to harder ground, worn shoes, or coming back after a break — one of those is nearly always in the story. The tissue was not weak; it was asked for more than it had been prepared for.

At a reduced level, usually yes.

Complete rest is rarely necessary and rarely helps. Cut distance until you can run without pain the next morning, hold there for a week or two, then build slowly. Pain that persists at that reduced level needs examining.

Sometimes, and not as step one.

Footwear and training load fix the majority. If you have a flat foot that rolls in significantly, arch support can help, but it is worth correcting the shoes and the mileage first and seeing what is left.