Ever lose a toenail?

Yes, it is related to your toes bumping against the top/front of your shoes.  It's not a big deal, other than being uncomfortable.  You can avoid it by buying shoes that have a larger toebox in the future, or running pancake flat races .  The nail may fall off, and will probably feel better if it does.  You can relieve some of the pressure from under the nail by taking the smallest drillbit you can find and just using your fingers to 'drill' through the nail.  It's scary to do the first time, but your toe will feel much better afterwards if the pressure is bothering you.  It takes quite a few months to grow back, but isn't painful.  You will want to be mindful of it though, as the nailbed will not have any protection.  Yes, and thank you for not loosing it.

I've lost many a toenail.  I am starting to think once you lose it once it becomes easier.  The last time was due to playing basketball in my running shoes and jamming my toe up against the front of the sneaker when I pivoted.  The jamming against the front of the shoe is the most common cause so it's all about having the correct size shoe (and the proper shoe for the activity )

For me it is annoying more then anything.  Once the swelling goes down it actually takes a long time for it to fall off.  And by then there is a layer of "something" under there so it doesn't hurt or anything.  At least that has been my experience.  All the hurting is in the action of actually causing the trama.

Yes, it is most likely from running.  Yes, you will probably lose the nail (or 'loose' if you prefer).  It's no big deal.  It happens.

Mine turn purple but don't fall off until a new toenail grows underneath and then it falls off normally when I'm swimming.

Usually takes about 4 months for it to fall off. IMFL was first IM I'm not losing both 2nd toenails. I have Morton's feet so 2nd toe is longer than big toe and it slightly bends down so it gets damaged when I run long. Usually every IM I lose them, HM I have lost them and some 70.3. So normally I lose them 2x minimum a year so 8 months a year I'm growing new ones...now they grow back and are odd looking with some ridges and bumps in them.

It's rare that I have all 10 toenails.  If there's a lot of pressure, I'll either drill through the nail like someone already mentioned, or poke a pin through the tip if I can get at it that way.  Otherwise, just let it be until it finally falls off.  Then start making a necklace.  For the record, my wife said she would leave me if I ever tried to do this.
http://runtrails.blogspot.com/2007/03/making-your-own-toenail-necklace.html

Been there, done that! Had both big toe nails fall off as a result of poor shoe choice for a half marathon last spring. Making sure your nails are nice and short (cut right before a longer race) definitely helps out. The nails from my big toes came off about a month after the run.

Right now my 2nd to big toe (is there a name for that - like pointer toe?) is purple under each nail and they will inevitably fall off at some point. There isn't a whole lot you can really do except figure out what shoes work best for you and to keep your nails as short as possible.

Edited by natethomas2000 2010-12-11 3:08 PM

All the time.

look up my thread, i had mine ripped out as i was doing trapeze that is another story.  but it was painful...had to cut out the top part of a shoe just so i can keep running.

I had a black/purple toenail for many many months (following a half marathon).  I didn't really know what to do with it, so I just let it be.  Eventually it kinda just fell off, didn't hurt at all.  I believe a new toenail had already started forming underneath.

Same here. Mine don't hurt. They just turn purple. Sometimes it grows out, sometimes it falls off. This happens even though my shoes are plenty big in the toe box and there is no rubbing. There just seems to be something about the longer distances that give that second toe problems. I have flattish arches so maybe there's more push-off pressure on that second toe. Hard to say.

I've lost 3 here this year. 1 is in the process of growing back now...

No problems. Luckily, half the time that I have them, I don't notice them until they're purple. Not that big of a deal... 

I used to lose toenails regularly after long events.

I started making sure my toenails were trimmed right before an event and I do not lose toenails as often.

I've lost big toenails for a couple years running in the spring as a result of walking in ski boots after skiing peaks, if it's from running you just need shoes with a little more volume in the toebox.

Perhaps we should change this thread to who has NOT had a toenail turn black and fall off.

Usually, it takes longer than 13 miles to do one in.  More around 18-20 seems to be my black toenail range.  I've got a couple brewing right now. 

some folkl' never lose a toe, and then again some fol', like cletus the slack jawed yokel

The last time I lost a toe nail I sent it to my wife in the mail. Really cool watching her open up the letter thinking it would be something romantic! I try to cut them real short when I run long.