Wait...your toenails can fall off if you run regularly?

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  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    I used to lose them while playing basketball. I make sure I have lots of toe space now for running
  • FatMoojor
    FatMoojor Posts: 483 Member
    I currently have the toenails on my both my big toes regrowning back. Lost them on a 100km run last September. Also had one fall off after a 50km run before that.
    For me it's normally down to distance, don't have any issues up to marathon distance but over that my toenails seem to get more of a battering.
  • CasperNaegle
    CasperNaegle Posts: 936 Member
    Yuck, one more reason not to run ☺
  • furmickc
    furmickc Posts: 43 Member
    I didn't lose a toenail until I started trail running. The downhills push my toes into the front of the box, no matter what size shoe I wear. Add 3-4 hours on the trail, it's a lot of pounding!
  • mangrothian
    mangrothian Posts: 1,351 Member
    I've lost three all on my right foot. My right foot is over half a size bigger than my left, so there's less room for them in my shoes. The first was from actually having shoes the wrong size, the second and third was from not trimming my toenails properly during a point where I was increasing my mileage.
  • jellebeandesigns
    jellebeandesigns Posts: 347 Member
    I'm on the verge of losing my first. It's an honor
  • oocdc2
    oocdc2 Posts: 1,361 Member
    edited February 2016
    Thanks, everyone! The toebox suggestions make a lot of sense. Asics is my sneaker of choice, and I can say they're quite roomy. It's also nice to know that, even if it happens, it's not overly traumatic and I'd be in good company. I'm calming down now. :smile:
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    Yeah, agree with others, I've been running marathon and up distances for 12 years. Never lost a toenail due to racing (lost a toenail due to dropping my luggage on my foot the day after a race when I couldn't control my muscles, but I only indirectly blame running for that).
  • allaboutthecake
    allaboutthecake Posts: 1,535 Member
    Get regular pedi's...keeps the issue at bay. Skip the polish & the removal of callous.
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    Properly fitted shoes and socks are very important.

    When I first started running, I bruised my big toe by running downhill in shoes that were too large (those had been by a running store, but were 2 full sizes larger than my normal shoes and average width instead of narrow--I never went back to that running store after this incident). It never fell off, but there was a pocket underneath the nail for quite some time (3-4 years) and at one point I acquired a minor bacterial infection (pseudomonas, with the distinctive green tint) in the pocket--easily treatable with antibiotics though.

    I lost one of my smaller toenails while training for my first half marathon. During one of my long runs my sock was rubbing in a weird way and I never stopped to fix it. The cuticle had what looked like a blood blister and eventually the entire nail fell off as a new one grew underneath in its place. One of my other toenails is kind of thickened, but it hasn't turned black yet.

    Between running, skiing, yoga, and surfing I'm pretty hard on my toes--my pedicurist doesn't even blink at this kind of stuff anymore. I just stick to dark toenail polish and realize that I'll never be a foot model.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited February 2016
    herbivorinator wrote: »
    Can be preceded by black toenails.
    You want to make sure your shoes are big enough - no crammed toes. If your feet swell during runs, account for that and get slightly roomier shoes.
    I personally love and run in Altras, which have a very wide toebox and allow your toes to spread out. But that's just me. There are so many shoes out there nowadays for all kinds of runners. Everyone should find what works for them.

    Yeah, I have gotten "black toe" and lost the nail a couple of times on the same toe. It is bruising under the nail from the end of the toe getting constantly jammed against the toe of your shoe/boot. In my case, it only happens when I do something way out of the ordinary (like taking a 24 mile in one day hike) and that toe is a little longer than the others. I started using the gel toe caps on that toe for a little extra cushioning when I do a long hike or I know I am going to be on steep trails and haven't gotten it since.

    ETA: it really isn't a big deal. The nail has always grown back the same as it originally was. My feet look much better than my 30 year old niece's, she used to be a ballet dancer.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Get a shoe with a large toe-box and keep your nails trimmed. You'll probably never have an issue. I've had a few but every single time it was from doing 15+ mile runs in the rain. I suspect my foot was slipping forward and crowding my toe since my shoes were soaked and slippery on the inside.
  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,281 Member
    liftsalltheweights wrote: »
    My toenails never fell off from running.

    This.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    _Waffle_ wrote: »
    Get a shoe with a large toe-box and keep your nails trimmed. You'll probably never have an issue. I've had a few but every single time it was from doing 15+ mile runs in the rain. I suspect my foot was slipping forward and crowding my toe since my shoes were soaked and slippery on the inside.

    A well fitting shoe is the best preventative. You don't want it too tight, but make sure it is not too loose either. If your feet slip in the shoe at all, you will still hit your toes against the front of the shoe and risk getting black toe.

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