Though i run 40 miles/wk, am of normal wt, & have no chronic conditions, i have varicose veins on shins. no pain, so pcp says leave alone. opinions?

Cosmetic: Of there is no swelling then this is a cosmetic problem . It can be treated with laser or sclerotherapy . Need to find a phlebologist.

Varicose Veins: Varicose veins can be a sign of venous reflux, a condition where your veins aren't properly moving blood back to your heart. It's not necessarily a dangerous thing, but certainly not something you should entirely ignore. You should see a vascular surgeon who can do a simple test. If you ignore this it can develop into ulcers in the future and affect the health of the skin on your legs.

Well: All is true that varicose veins (vv) are usually associated with reversal of flow in one or both major superficial vein trunks of the leg(s). I deal with vv for the last 30 years and I have seen runners like you with bulgy shin veins that harbor a normal pattern of flow. All what needs to be done is an doppler us/duplex examination while standing to clarify the issue!