Milestone 😞

[Comfortnotspeed]

Well. I feel I’m going through a right of passage.

Losing my big toe nail.

Sorry to over share.

Apparently this is a thing…

[TailChaser Marathon]

🤣 Congratulations?! Have you got any black ones to go with it? Hope it’s not too sore 🦶

[Comfortnotspeed Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

🥲No black ones yet. Still working on those 🤦🏼‍♀️

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

Oh no…bigger shoes needed?

[John_W Marathon]

If yours are the wrong size, then yes it is 😎

[Cmoi Marathon]

Urgh. I've never yet had toenail problems and would rather not, since I'm extremely squeamish about nails. 😱

[misswobble Marathon]

I get them all the time! I can’t keep a toenail! Carnage after my last marathon 😫😁

[Lizcanrun Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Ew!

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

I've only ruined one through too small shoes, learned that lesson!! 🙈

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

I've one big toenail that's fully restored and the other's on it's way. I've collected a few toenail thoughts on my running journey!

Getting the length right helps (too short and they can dig in, too long and they fall off).

Tight calf muscles can cause this! A tight calf requires more effort to lift the foot which causes the toes to rise bringing them into contact with the top of the shoe.

The fit / toebox of your shoes makes a difference.

[Comfortnotspeed Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

I’ve had new shoes and I don’t think I’ve worn them long enough to do the damage, yet! Really interested in the info about calf muscles and going to investigate!

Thanks as it’s not something I’d heard of 😊

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Oh no sorry to hear that! One of my big toenails has never really recovered from my C25K shoes being too small (well, my actual shoe size). Kept banging the end of the shoe and now it’s just milky white and looks like an infection even though it isn’t. I wonder if I lost it if it would come back normal. The things we do. 😊😊😊

[nowster Metric Marathon]

I've only lost one toenail so far: little toe left foot. It has grown back. And the blackened toe beds have almost healed now since this time last year. I'm still waiting for the nails on those toes to grow the big ridges out.

[Comfortnotspeed Marathon in reply to nowster]

I also lost one last year. Yep. The things we do!

[misswobble Marathon]

I lost my final manky toe nail the other night in bed. Five nails were damaged in my last November marathon. All now shed and looking better🙂

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to misswobble]

misswobble Is it the distance that does it? Or the shoes? Would it have happened if you had run the marathon in your Torin’s for example with the wide toe box? I’m hoping it never happens to me as I’m also very squeamish like Cmoi

Heal well! Comfortnotspeed 😍

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Fwiw RunWillie I didn't have any foot problems when training for and running the trail marathon. So I'd always assumed toenail loss was down to the way that shoes fit, whether that's in terms of size, width, lacing or any other factors, rather than distance. Maybe I've just been fortunate, despite having wide feet, a high instep and second toes that are longer than my big toes!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

My last pair of Torins (the plush version) gave me hideous blisters but so far so good with the new ones( the non-plush version). Running half marathons in them just lovely

I think putting some miles on shoes before marathon day is a good idea. Those I ran in were too new and not had time to bed in The trail sections were very wet so my feet got wet it was cold too!

Weak glutes don’t help, according to the guy at my shoe shop 🙂

[Comfortnotspeed Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I’m wearing my new Brooks I’m. To be honest I don’t like these Glycerin ones as much as my old GTX.

My glutes probably need adding to the strength routine too!! 😂

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Comfortnotspeed]

I took the scissors to the seam of the Glycerine’s heel counter as it rubbed my heel raw 😬

I need to work on my strength too 💪🙂