I used to suffer from shin splints, and as a result I didn’t run (one of the reasons I got into biking).
Early last year I decided to do tough mudder and needed to run, I started slowly and started off running 3-5k a few times a week on a treadmill. Then I did the same distance on the road after I was comfortable with that…then I started upping the distance.
I regularly run 9k, and every now and then I run 12k round Richmond park. The furthest I’ve done is around 17k on the road.
I don’t get shin splints at all.
BUT…I moved to a house about 10-15mins walk from the station, and I walk at a brisk pace there and back every day. I did that for a 2-3 months before I started running regularly. I suspect that is the reason for not suffering from shin splints rather than a gradual increase in running distance (which in my case wasn’t particularly scientific).