My toenail fell off.
I had perfect feet until I took up distance running. Anything in the 5-10k range was fine, but once I went upwards of 8 miles, I started getting strange, painless blisters on a few of my toe-tips. This didn't bother me, but when I noticed the second toenail on my right foot sort of "thickening" I got a little grossed out.
I'm not a feet person. I think feet are gross, yet here I am blogging about them. Yech.
After my first marathon, that toenail looked screwed up for a little while and then sort of went back to normal. But right away when I started running it thickened up again. I didn't care much that it was tough, but then it turned purple and started to hurt. I let it bother me for about a day before taking a needle and draining the massive blood blister behind it.
The blister was gone but the purple remained. Actually, it was more of a brackish black. I told Justin to take a look at it, and that's when he noticed that my nail wasn't actually attached except at the nail bed. EW. That freaked me out... but it didn't really feel any different.
So I cut off my toenail.
Now I have a black circle of nastiness where my nail is supposed to be. It doesn't hurt and it's not soft-- it's almost like another nail formed underneath the old one. But this new nail is kind of like Sloth from Goonies-- it just didn't come out right.
I'm terribly self-conscious about it and I have yoga at noon tomorrow. I'll try painting it, but I think it will be like putting a hat on a second head to try to cover it up. Oh well, I guess I won't be wearing sandals any time soon.
Posted on March 07, 2007 @ 4:15 PM | 5 comments
Comments:
Ewww eww eww!!
I had something similar happen in high school actually, after I stubbed mine really hard. I did try to paint over it. I don't think anyone was fooled -- if anyone noticed at all.
By 
Lazy Lightning, at
7:07 PM, March 07, 2007
toastily. EEWW!! eeww!! EEWW!!
just what i want to read after stepping off a plane----LAX -- SEA.
sushi -- friday?
.jeff
By 
espresso...yum, at
1:33 AM, March 08, 2007
The legendary bruised and detaching toenails are very common with long distance runners, but how horrifying when it *actually* happens to your own toenail. Yucky fu.
You do have a good excuse if someone asks you about it: "ACTUALLY, I'm training for a marathon!" I'm sure it will turn a normal color and grow back in good time. But yeah, I've had gross feet history, I can relate to how embarrassing it can be. I won't laugh at you. But I will require one long, curious stare, okay?
By Rachel, at
7:06 AM, March 08, 2007
It's a badge of honour. Wear it well.
My wife lost her first toe nail in last years Round the Bay 30km race. This after about 12 marathons.
Myself, I have never lost a toe nail but do indeed get some nasty blisters.
By running42k, at
12:07 PM, March 08, 2007
just make sure you paint the rest of your toenails too...or it might look a little conspicuous. :o)
By sometrouble, at
2:24 PM, March 09, 2007
