During my recent ultramarathon, I was running some fairly extreme trail terrain. I can’t count how many times I bashed my toes into rocks, roots, and who knows what else.
I thought I was going to end up with blisters which I have had before from long runs. But I only had a slingle blister on the bottom of my right foot.
But I had something new. The toenails on both of my big toes were black. Also the toenail of the toe next to my right big toe. Actually, the toenail on the big toe of my left foot was part black, and part pink.
Now that five days have gone by, the toe nail on my left foot looks like it may be okay. The toenail on my right big toe is still black, and I think it will come off. I wrapped it with a bandaid to hold it on. The toenail on the toe next to it doesn’t look so hot either, but it looks my better than the big toe.
I have never lost a toenail, but people I have talked to seem to say it is no big deal, and that it will grow back in a few months.
a couple weeks ago my toenail became black from running a lot but it has been okay since and not bothering me very much. today my friend happend to step on it though which caused a lot of pain. tommarow i am running a lot as well, is it okay to run with these 2 black toenails?
Comment by lily mcgregor — March 18, 2008 @ 12:18 am
Yeah, you can run with them, no problem. I tried to keep them clipped short. I think part of the problem was that the front part of the toenail was hitting the inside of the shoe. With the nail clipped shorter, it wont happen as much. But this is just a guess.
I am doing the race again this year that caused the toenail issue. My toenail will just about be grown back.
Comment by Rob — March 18, 2008 @ 6:59 am