Can I stretch my new running shoes a bit??

[Frizzbomb67]

I’ve just bought a new pair of Brooks Ghost 14 GTX. I wanted water proof trainers (not made of tough runners stuff obviously) I read that the gortex ones come up small so I ordered a size larger. They fit well and there is enough room at the end but they really press on my big toe nails. I thought it was because I needed to cut them but they are shorter than short now and they have still got bruised today. I don’t want to lose them 🤦🏻‍♀️. I think it’s because my big toes rise up when I walk and run and press on the top of the shoe. My other shoes went into a hole there. There is much more resistance on the gortex ones than on the non waterproof ones. Can I stretch them? Will they naturally ‘give’? In every other way I love them but my big toes nail doth protest. Thanks.

[Snail_Male Marathon]

I have a pair of Brooks Ghost GTX and they have stretched. They definitely don't have the give of usual runners, and when I initially got them I had various niggles, including toenails. However I was wearing them around the house and walking the dog wearing winter socks with then on and by about 4 months in they became my favourite running shoes and still are. But maybe get another pair for when it isn't raining as well - you'll wear both pairs out eventually!

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to Snail_Male]

Oh that’s good to know. Thanks. There is life left in my other pair which I was thinking of wearing when it’s not raining just to give my toes nails a break. Good advice. Thanks 👍🏻

[Katnap Marathon]

Maybe a few runs in the wet will help them stretch? As it happens, I've ordered some wet weather for you. Aren't I thoughtful? 😹

👻🐱 Spooky Katnap 🐱👻

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to Katnap]

Thanks 🌧 🌧 Much appreciated 😂😂

[Cmoi Marathon]

Changing the way you lace them might help as well. See here: protips.dickssportinggoods....

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to Cmoi]

How interesting! I’ll give it a go. Thanks

[Katnap Marathon in reply to Frizzbomb67]

I skipped a few holes on my hiking shoes where I had pain on my arch. Might be worth playing with until they stretch 👍

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Frizzbomb67]

I was sceptical, but used the anti-black-toe lacing for my Brooks Cascadia 16s and it worked. The good thing is that if changing lacing doesn't work, it's easily reversible and you could return the shoes without having damaged them in any way.

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

That’s an excellent link! Thank you Cmoi 👍 I’m going to experiment with lacing today! Fun fun fun 😊😀

[misswobble Marathon]

You can do the freezer trick too

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

Yikes you surely don't mean freeze your toes and then snap them off....... That's drastic measures 😬

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to Hidden]

Does sound a bit drastic 😂😂

[Hidden in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Let's say you decide against the toe removal 👍 brooks do offer a very good returns policy, not to sure where you stand regarding the sizing issues, but it may be worth a try

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to misswobble]

Ooo what’s that?

[misswobble Marathon]

I saw a YouTube video of a lady who owns a shoe repair business in the US. You fill a tie top freezer bag with water, insert it carefully into the shoe and put it in the freezer As the water freezes it expands the shoe Apparently you wear the shoe immediately afterwards (overnight in the freezer) on your socked feet obvs and it then forms nicely to the form of your foot. Apparently. Not tried it yet

I’ll see if I can find the video. It might even be hereabouts already 😃

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to misswobble]

Sounds plausible 🤔. I think I might try wearing them with thick socks first.

[Mormor1 Half Marathon]

You can get shoes stretched too, a cobbler did it for me once or twice...

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

How new are they FB? New enough to return to get the next size up? 😀

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Yes but I don’t think it’s the size. They are already a size up and my toes have plenty of room, they don’t touch the ends. I think it’s more about how my toes lift as I run and press against the top of the shoe. I’ll persevere and break them in a bit more I think

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Ahh, that makes sense. Hope you find a solution.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Frizzbomb67]

As you get older, your toes get stiffer and turn upwards (dorsiflexion). They either wear holes in your uppers or you get black nails - or both 😤

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to misswobble]

😱

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to misswobble]

Just what I needed to hear 😂😂

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to misswobble]

Yes, the hole in the shoe happens to UTS. Our local running shop offers a service to put a patch on the inside to reinforce when new. It won’t stop the black toenails, but it might be worth chatting to your running shop for a solution.

[misswobble Marathon]

Losing a toe nail is a rite of passage for runners. That’s what I was told here anyway 😎😃

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to misswobble]

OMG I'm not yet a proper runner then. *cries forever* 🤣🤣🤣

(Actually I'm incredibly squeamish about nails, so I'm desperate to avoid losing any. 😱)

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

They can take an age to fully come off 😁. I had a big toe nail hanging on for ages and I had to tape it down til it got to the point where I could clip it It was then comfortable enough to let it shed on its own

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to misswobble]

🤢 Ooo squeamish! They have got until next Summer when I get my flips flops out! 😂

[misswobble Marathon]

Flip flops! 😱 Too risky! I’d stub my toe in a nanosecond ☺️

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

You could try doing some calf stretches! No, seriously! A tight calf means that other muscles have to work harder to compensate and that tends to make your big toe rise up and squash your nail. I wore through a number of socks and shoes before I learnt this and fixed the problem.

After my lockdown mail order shoe experience, I much prefer to buy my shoes from a shop where I can try them out on a treadmill first. Nowadays, I’ll only buy running shoes online if I’m buying a model that I’ve used before (and, maybe, an updated version of such).

Hope you get it sorted soon.

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles in reply to SkiMonday]

Thanks. That makes sense as my calves and Achilles Tendons are really tight after a run. How did you fix it? Just calf stretches daily?

[Frizzbomb67 10 Miles]

Update: so after trying various things I found my solution (see pic) Granted they’re not very sexy 😂😂 but they are little gel filled caps for your toes. Who knew these things existed 🤷🏻‍♀️. They are thin so don’t take up too much room at the end of my shoes. They stop my gammy big toes rising up, and if they do, they sink into the gel rather than hit the top of the shoe. Result! I’ve tried them on a few longer runs now and my toe nails feel fine and the bruises are fading. Washable too - most important! Thanks everyone. My new shoes are now perfect! 🤩

Gel toe caps