Sore toes when running

taraneedham73
taraneedham73 Posts: 28 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all,

When I have been doing longer runs I am finding my little toes on my left foot seem to hurt when running and after I did 9.5 miles last week I noticed my toe 2nd on the left has gone slightly black and I was wondering what this might be? Has anyone else experienced this? I am not sure if its because of my trainers but then it doesnt seem to be happening on my right foot!

Replies

  • wolfsbayne
    wolfsbayne Posts: 3,116 Member
    You may have shoes that are too small. When I started walking, I would walk for about an hour and a half and I ended up losing my toenail twice because my shoes were too small for the amount of walking I was doing. I did some research and found that you're supposed to have shoes about a size bigger than what you'd normally where due to swelling. After I bought bigger shoes, the toe problems went away.

    Hope that helps.
  • Samenamenewlook
    Samenamenewlook Posts: 296 Member
    You need some more room in your shoes. Could need to go up a size, or it might be that the shoe is narrow. I'd go get fitted and it will stop.
  • lunapetu0311
    lunapetu0311 Posts: 96
    I agree with the others - your shoes may be too small. I've always run in shoes 1/2 size larger than my normal size. The black toe thing is very normal - just comes from so much impact on your nails. When I was training for a 1/2 marathon I got a black toe nail too -- fell off eventually ; / And try to keep your nails cut short so they don't hit your shoes so much. Good luck!
  • dmeyers1969
    dmeyers1969 Posts: 130 Member
    Check the size because when I started running longer distances I went up 1/2 a shoe size because of this same thing. Make sure you are tieing shoes tight enough as well but if you go with bigger size, will not rub as much. Also, in some instances, getting black toes, nails falling off will happen, even happens to the pros so not a huge deal.
  • donrdon
    donrdon Posts: 216 Member
    I agree that you trainers may be too small. Generally your running shoes s/b 1/2 size larger than what you normally wear. Best to get fitted at a running store if you plan on continuing to hit the road. Having the proper shoes is soooo important.
  • Linli_Anne
    Linli_Anne Posts: 1,360 Member
    Yup - your shoes aren't the right size/width.

    Your feet will swell during longer exercising - walking, running etc. so if they have no room to start they are going to get irritate by rubbing on the toe box of your shoes.

    A proper fitting shoe should have about a thumb-tip of space between the end and your big toe, some people need a bit more than that.
  • taraneedham73
    taraneedham73 Posts: 28 Member
    Hi guys and girls,

    Thanks for all the replies. I am thinking to myself maybe I need new running trainers and maybe they are too small. I am a size 6 and my trainers are a size 7. I have had them for 5 years so maybe they do need replacing but I dont think I have done 300 miles in them. It is annoying when my toes hurt as the day after my toes feel sore and are still hurting.

    I was wondering what the cause is from black toe nails or is it from long distance running? I was also wondering what are the best sport shops for running trainers? Is sports world any good? I was thinking sweatshop as thats where I got my last pair from but they are quite expensive.

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