Black Toe 06/22/2010
 
Q - I am a 9 time marathon runner and suffer terribly from "black toe", particularly in runs over 10 miles. My shoes are long enough, wide enough and high enough. My toenails are ruined from it. They have thickened and I file them flat and paint them as they are always blue. Sometimes they are too sore to run. Any ideas? 

A - You really paint them? Well if it's any consolation this condition (medically labelled, subungual hematoma) is extremely common amongst all levels of runners. And in many cases it's simply inexpicable, seemingly defying all rational grounds for its occurrence. Sure, you'll hear explanations that this problem ususally results from repeated trauma of the toe against the toe box or tight-fitting shoes across the toe area. 

However, it appears that in some cases the trauma or concussion that the feet absorb with the repeated impacts may be a sufficient trigger. 

In any case, the nail root or nail plate has been dammaged, thereby resulting in some nail deformity. Consequently, all I can suggest is experimenting with different shoes and perhaps increasing the percentage of running on softer (i.e., grass, cinder) surfaces. You will have to be tougher than nails.....
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