Hey, soloing lolroutine against Red Templars ain't easy. How many times have you been ganked by a shadow?
Exactly.
It was only my second attempt at a solo on this game. The first attempt (also with the Elementalist, funnily enough) was about a month ago and ended when I got the key glitch (no firestorm, but didn't matter, glitched anyway) on Wave 3 or 4. I had not attempted one since then because rage, no heal on kill rings or anything, and I don't really like solos (this goes back to ME3MP, where I also did not like solos).
Routine did turn out really LOL, though. I could probably solo a Threatening, but feel zero desire. I did this mainly because I only managed to get four combos off in a PUG Threatening match, so I solo'd just to get the dang challenge done. 
Is there a way to counter the shadows other than waiting until they get within 6 inches of you to target them?
My level 19 archer that's 300xp from leveling to 20 doesn't appreciate getting ohk'd on routine -.-
Your first clue a cloaked Shadow is stalking you is this eerie, wind-blowing sort of sound effect. Also, sometimes you can see the little diamond shape bouncing around where he is (the aiming reticule/targeting an enemy symbol thingie). But mostly it's just that whooshing sound. When I hear it, I just make sure to keep moving around until he finally tries to stab at me as I run past, then kill him. Quickly. Preferably with fire. Maybe even nuke from orbit. To be sure. I... I may have firstormed just one Shadow the first time he stabbed at me. 