Tech In Training: You Know You're Crazy When the Toenails Go

The ultrarunner's solution to a nagging problem

By Mike Haney Posted 10.21.2009 at 4:01 pm 4 Comments

No Toenails Matthew Staver/The New York Times

The first time I read that running can turn your toenails black or even make them fall off, I knew I'd found the limit to my dedication to the sport. I'll run through achey joints, sore muscles and most blisters, but toenails are sacrosanct, a permanent part of my body. Fortunately, mine have survived my handful of marathons entirely intact and properly colored.

Some, however, are being preempting the problem.

Ultramarathoners—anybody who runs more than 26.2—tend to get serious toenail issues. So the Times highlights one unorthodox solution: have them permanently removed. There are apparently no medical reasons to keep them, though they can actually grow back even after surgical removal. To me, that's sign enough that my body wants its nails and I don't intend to argue.

[New York Times]

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4 Comments

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lurch632

10/22/09 at 12:29 am

ouch, i never knew that could happen from running

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RMORTI

10/22/09 at 8:47 pm

Food for thought, it is actually more common than bleeding nipples.

The nails repeatedly rub the shoe creating a blood blister under the nail. It is also associated with running downhill alot.

Summer weather makes it worse because the feet tend to swell more. Proper shoe sizing, good socks the wick moisture away, and tight laces close to the toes can help prevent this. Never run in 100% cotton socks. Cotton retains moisture and you will get blisters in the summer and cold clammy feet in the winter. Stick with synthetic materials that wick away moisture.

I run about 6-7 miles a day, nothing close to 26.2 miles or God forbid the 62 mile Lake Saroma ultra marathon in Hokaido. Reading Murakami's story on that run was enough to make me never want to attempt it.

My constant irritant is ingrown toenails from the nail pushing on the side of the shoe, but they don't turn black. I think I need to run farther everyday because having those toenails fall off would be a blessing.

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Oakspar77777

10/23/09 at 10:52 am

Two other options that let you keep your nails:

1) Run barefoot. It takes a lot of training, and will never be enough for long distance runs on hot, abrasive, hard, artifical surfaces. For beaten dirt paths, however, barefeet, properly trained, can go forever with less foot and arch pain.

2) Running socks. These keep most of the benefits of barefoot, but with more padding and insulation for the feet. They are exspensive and short lived (a marathon run would burn through more than one pair).

After all, the real issue here is not flaws in the structure of the foot, but due to the fact that the foot was not built for the shoe.

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rcguy

10/23/09 at 12:48 pm

hahahahaha this is great! I currently missing one toenail and have one black one as well. Kind of humorous as well the black toenail I have lost three years in a row on the VERY SAME Marathon. It kills me everytime. Almost like a tradition really. Very cool article-Got super excited to see something about marathon running as well.

RMORTI-if you are really running 6-7 miles a day you should try doing a marathon. My yearly average is 4.52 a day and I am doing 5 fulls a year. You might be suprised how fun it is!