Broken toenails

[Laurie]

I just ran my longest run ever... 13K this weekend in just under 90 minutes... OK.. so I'm not fast.. but i am more after endurance than speed.

however.. I noticed that after my run (as I think of it now - its been like this for a week maybe - but i just realized WHAT was wrong after my run) that the outside side of both of my big toe nails were broken across my toe - about 1/2 way down my toe nail.

Does that make sense? 

They didn't' really hurt - and still don't - but my concern is now that I had to cut about 1/4 of my toenail off - leaving some not so nice edges.   (so for example - looking down at my right big toe, the top left 1/4 of my toenail is gone, and on my left toe, the top right 1/4 is gone).

So.. a couple questions...   How do i tape these? (or what do I do with them!?)  I am running a 10K race in kingston (the Hotel Dieu Hospital race) this Saturday.

and

what can i do - if anything to prevent this? 

Mind you - I've decided that i MUST have made it now as a 'real runner' - because isn't this really a sign of a runner - wrecked toes?!?!

Thanks for any thoughts/advice...
Laurie.

[Robyn]

I think the most obvious sign of a runner is ugly toes.  They either have black toe nails, no toe nails or mangled toe nails.  Try using an athletic tape rather than a band-aid on your nails.  What I've done in the past, and works well for me, is to cut a "V" in the centre end of my big toe nails and keep them filed down so that they aren't so thick.  My toe nails are extremely thick so filing them seems to allow for a bit of flexibility, and they're less likely to rub on the top of my shoes.  Also, when you tape them, make sure you're standing up, otherwise the tape will be too tight.  That's my advice, but I am nowhere near the toe expert that someone else here may be.

[ShoppinShannon]

I was told to go up a half a size in my running shoes and that helped alot.
Have you talked to Sandy or Patti at Tri and Run??

[Jane]

My left toenail turned black and fell off after the Toad last year, after lots of down hills.  I think my trail shoes were a little tight too.

My right toenail did the same on a normal training run after wearing thicker socks in my little too small trail shoes too.

I have bought larger shoes as well.  Maybe you need to check how tight your shoes are.  When you run your feet tend to swell, which makes the shoes tighter.  I'll let you know how the bigger shoes work after the Toad in a couple of weeks.