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  1.  
    seeOscarrun
    My toe nail is about to fall out.  This has never happened before.  Anyone care to share a tip or advice?
  2.  
    wvhillrunner

    Sure, I've had this happen.  It fell out and a new one grew back.  No big deal.

    To prevent, make sure there's enough room in your shoe for your toes.  Also check your running form.  Some people have a tendency to clinch their toes while running. 

    • CommentAuthorMarnee
    • CommentTimeAug 10th 2007
     
    Marnee
    Yep.  Its sometimes called Grand Canyon Toe and I have suffered through it numerous times.  It comes from repeatedly slamming your toes into the wall of your shoes (I also have tendency to clinch my toes).  You need to make sure you get the right kinds of shoes that are properly sized and shaped for your feet.  This can be a daunting task.  Best of luck.
    • CommentAuthorMarnee
    • CommentTimeAug 10th 2007
     
    Marnee
    Oh, and trim those toe nails!
    • CommentAuthorCaralisa
    • CommentTimeAug 13th 2007
     
    Caralisa
    I have never had a toenail fall off from running (not yet) but I have seen many fall off from backpacking.  In backpacking the rule is: don’t let your toes touch the front of your shoe.  You have to keep your laces tight around your anckly to keep your heel back in the shoe.  It always starts with the “purple toe  In fact,  I no longer allow my friends to have fingernail polish on when backpacking.  This is because when I took my friend on her first backpacking trip she ended up loosing several toenails and her boyfriend was not very happy about it.  We had no idea her toenails were turning purple because they were painted red!!! 
    • CommentAuthorB-Grrrrl
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2007
     
    B-Grrrrl

    Yep - I've had both my big toenails drop off.  They got damaged in the spring and by the summer when I wanted to be wearing nice sandals they had gone all crusty and black & yellow, with the new nail pushing through underneath.

    The first time it happened was ill fitting snowboard boots and the second time was ill fitting trainers.  My problem both times was my toes were stubbing against the end of my boots/trainers.  I didn't feel any pain whilst boarding or running but the after effects were pretty clear!

    I've got some nice comfy trainers now where my toes are free to roam inside !

    I got new snowboard boots as well but I'm convinced that they are NEVER meant to be comfy :lol:

    • CommentAuthorkitn1968
    • CommentTimeAug 17th 2007
     
    kitn1968
    I am the friend on question from Caralisa'a post...I continue to have problems with this as a runner too. I know that my shoes fit but I think I must be clenching my toes. I wear really thick socks and lace my shoes up tight and try relax my toes. It is mainly my second toes that give me problems. My last few long runs i could feel the beginnings of blisters. I think though that some of the problem may be from a backpacking trip I had in the spring and they hadnt quite healed/grown back. To me this is  the ickiest thing about bpacking and running.  
    • CommentAuthortt1106
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2007
     
    tt1106

    Welcome to the world of running. Laughing

    Even with great shoes, the more distance you do, the more likely this is.

    Ever seen ultra-marathoners feet? <puking smiley> 

     

     

    • CommentAuthorTrotters
    • CommentTimeSep 3rd 2007
     
    Trotters

    I'm presently without a left big toe-nail; half grown after losing it in May, and my right is 'flapping' at the moment- about to drop off.  Both casualties of toe stubbing on woodland trails.  As per the prior comment ; 'Welcome to running'

    It dosen't look too pretty, but you won't die from toe-nail loss Yell

    • CommentAuthoradagio
    • CommentTimeSep 4th 2007
     
    adagio
    In my case, it always happens to the same toe.  So, as a solution, I put a band-aid before the run or race on the toe.  It works everytime.
    • CommentAuthorTS1207
    • CommentTimeSep 4th 2007
     
    TS1207

    The key for me was the socks.  Cotton socks don't stretch, so even if your shoes fit your toes might be 'hitting' the end of your socks if you wear plain old cotton socks.  My toes all healed when I started wearing acrylic/polyster blend socks that have some stretch to them.  I wear New Balance, only because you can usually get them on sale at Kohls -  buy two three packs and get one free.  

    • CommentAuthorFrankie56
    • CommentTimeSep 5th 2007
     
    Frankie56

    I lose 1 or 2 toenails every year after my annual half marathon. They always grow back a few months later.

     

    Does wearing a plaster over them really work? I would think you would still damage the base of the nail. 

    • CommentAuthorTrotters
    • CommentTimeSep 5th 2007
     
    Trotters

     

    I've been running, mostly over rough ground, for distances between 3 and 13 miles for the past two years - the only toe-nail loss has occured (both feet unfortunately!) over the past 4 months, both directly as a result of impact against tree roots.  I don't believe I'd have lost either for any other reason - the worst part of the experience was going a**e over t*t when it happened! Fortunately I didn't sustain any other, more serious injury, when arriving at ground level on these occasions.

    • CommentAuthorcindyb
    • CommentTimeSep 5th 2007
     
    cindyb
    You can actually buy toenail caps that protect the nail. But if you keep your nails trimmed short, and ensure that you have a roomy toebox in your shoe, you'll be less likely to damage the nail.
    • CommentAuthoraspagarino
    • CommentTime7 days ago edited
     
    aspagarino
    Some experts recommend a full size of shoe bigger... that did not work for me. Also the silicon toenail caps did not work, however the combination of thin socks with doing a proper Loop-lacing lock may solve your problemsCool.