black toe nails - General running

Wayne Frewen

13/01/2008 at 18:06

I've been running for about a year now, and my running has improved and is going really well, the problem is that despite buying good quality running shoes (Kayanos) I'm still getting more that my fair share of black toe nails. There is plenty of room in the shoes so I don't believe not that they're to small or anything. Does anybody have the same sort of problems? Or are some people just more prone to this than others. Maybe I should consider trying a different brand, problem is that with so many brands and models on the market it can be so confusing, and also very costly. Does anybody have any advice, suggestions, or tips? Wayne FrewenBridgend

Madge.

13/01/2008 at 18:14

If it's not the shoes..............is it your nails. Maybe you leave them too long? Black nails can surely only come from bashing the nail against the shoe. I lost 4 of mine just because the shoe was too short - stationary it felt longer than foot but running was a different story

Johnny J

13/01/2008 at 19:17

Go up 1/2 a shoe size.

Wilkie

14/01/2008 at 09:57

My shoes are 1.5 sizes bigger than street shoes, my nails are short as they can be, but I still get sore, and sometimes black, nails on the second toe when my long runs are more than ten-twelve miles.

I think it's just the repeated striking on the ground.

stoxy

14/01/2008 at 10:00

Mine are half a size bigger now and I keep the toenails relatively short. Mind you I was rather proud of my black toenails the first (and only) time

PloddingOn pirate

pirate

14/01/2008 at 10:02

I was told to fit 2 fingers behind your heel and the shoe. I haven't had a problem since...

Sometimes, my street shoes are a 6 or 7. My running shoes are an 8...

210bpm

14/01/2008 at 10:12

Do black toe nails taste better than white ones? You know, when you chew them?

Seriously...bigger shoes and chop your nails regularly.

Siance

14/01/2008 at 10:15

Another one is to push your heel back in your shoe and there should be a thumbs's width between the end of your longest toe (not always the big toe) and the front of the toe box.

Cutting the toe nails short so there's no white and having your shoes 'top laced' so it cups the heel to prevent excessive movement can help.

Sometimes it's the pressure of footstrike though, not the toe actually bashing the end of the shoe.

G diddy

14/01/2008 at 10:26

The toe box on a running shoe needs to fit for length, width and height. If you've got the correct size of Kayano and your nails are short then I would guess you should try a different shoe (start with the comparable shoe from other brands). Alternatively get some Thorlo socks because they're quite padded around the toe area.

The other thing i've found is that black toe nails don't disappear very quickly even if you sort out the cause of the problem.

Karl

14/01/2008 at 10:39

just let them fall off and make a necklace out of the bits....

Siance

14/01/2008 at 11:33

Or leave it on the side of the bath so your other half picks it up thinking it's a plaster...

M.ister W

14/01/2008 at 11:42

It could be that your toe-nails are hitting the top of the toe-box, rather than the end.

Or it could be your socks. I have one toe-nail that gets bruised by my sock rubbing on it when I run really long distances.

fat buddha

14/01/2008 at 12:05

toe-nails are hitting the top of the toe-box

definitely an issue - I had this problem with some NB shoes (they had some hard plastic above the toebox) so ditched them 'cos of that

PloddingOn pirate

pirate

14/01/2008 at 12:15

I can't stand NB. They are the only "sports" shoe I have ever been in where I swear they are trying to eat my feet

Wayne Frewen

14/01/2008 at 13:51

A big thank you everybody who took the time to respond, there are so many tips and suggestions, and I'm sure that between them I'll find a way to lessen, if not totally cure, my black toenail problem. The suggestion from M.ister W sounds very plausible. Some of the suggestions and comments are very funny like the 'making a necklace out of the toe nails' from Karl "nice one Karl", and the NB comments from Fat Buddha and from ploddingOn. Again a big thanks to all who took the time to respond.

Wayne Frewen

fat buddha

14/01/2008 at 15:03

that's what we're all here for Wayne

good luck

Scream

14/01/2008 at 20:39

I wish I had toenails.

Ellisrh

17/01/2008 at 13:33

On a similar vein...i dont get black toenails but the top of my toes go a funny shade of grey / black? Is this caused by the same thing? My trainers are half size bigger, I wear running socks?!!

DeeCee

17/01/2008 at 13:37

My toe nails are killing me ! Proper socks, shoes half a size bigger, short nails etc. I think it's a physiological thing.

Wayne Frewen

17/01/2008 at 13:46

Hi Ellisrh, I think possibly so, although mine are all colours at the moment, if I had one white one I'd have a snooker set, and if I cut my nails any shorter I'll be cutting my toes, on a more serious note, black,grey, its the same thing I think, bruising under the toe nails