I meet too many athletes who
believe losing toenails after an event is normal. Many athletes are simply
prone to black toenails.
The
best means of preventing black toenails is to wear shoes with a generous toebox
and the proper length for your feet. Some athletes cut slits in their shoe’s
toebox or cut out a portion of the
toebox to gain relief. Some put a strip of
moleskin or other tape on the nail, extending it a bit over the nail’s edge.
Ultrarunner
Nancy Shura advises on how she has resolved blood blisters under toenails:
“Beginning about 3-months before the big race, I use an emery board to file down
the thickness of the nails (I do all 10). You just sand the entire toenail
surface… slowly. I perform this as a nightly ritual! This should be done
gradually and gently, taking several weeks to get the entire nail paper thin!
As new nail grows out, just sand it down. I also gently file over the end of
each nail to take off any new growth. I came upon this idea based on the fact
that several runners have had their toenails surgically removed. The thinner
the nail bed, the more pliable it is to pressure. The end result is that my
toes feel nail-less to the touch. I stop sanding about three days before the
event just to be sure the nail is not tender. As the nails get thinner, at
first they can be a little tender (just like immediately after losing a nail)
but the sensation soon diminishes.”
Stop
thinking losing one’s toenails is normal and expected. Make sure your shoes fit
well, and manage your toenails.
