Losing a toenail is like child birth. You let enough time pass you actually begin to forget you went through it. (You thought I was going to say because of the pain, didn’t you? No. Not even close.)
It is a very annoying type of pain though. And every time I go through it, I think two things:
1. Wow, I haven’t been through this in a while. And
2. Is this the time I lose it forever? How will that look in sandals?
However, if I consult the archives, I find that I lose a toenail roughly once every year and a half. Which would put me in “tonial.” (Denial+tonail = tonial. I am in tonial.) Which means I lose toenails more often than I care to admit. I half don’t even remember them.
The part that really pisses me off about losing this toenail is that I don’t even deserve it. I wasn’t racking up the miles only to lose it after I crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. Nothing spectacular at all.
In fact, just like the last sad discovery, it remained hidden underneath multiple layers of terribly tacky covered-up red nail polish and I only discovered it Friday night when I felt this terrible pinch. I thought it was ingrown, but no. It is just coming up on one side. Nice. You’re welcome.
Don’t worry. I’m not providing pictures of said toe. I have it wrapped like a mummy and I’m waiting for the inevitable. Even thus, I hate pictures of all feet and would promptly barf if someone else put a picture of a foot on the internet not to mention if one with a half-dead toenail went up. (Disclaimer: I love baby feet, I could snack on those.) So I won’t give you a picture of mine. I can hardly look at it myself. I do write about these things though. I can’t help myself.
Of course, for some reason, the kids have both accidentally stomped my toe now that it’s in critical condition. They never stomp my toe (or maybe I didn’t notice before) but it feels like they’re on an accidental stomping spree.
Anyway, I would feel a little better about a lost toenail if I actually deserved to lose it. Or earned it, rather.
Either way, I think it leaves me to re-think my $30 sneakers. I love my Avias, they are so light and fluffy but I didn’t get the “wide” this time around and I think I require the “wide.” I was blinded by $30. Kohls carries them and I bought my first pair a year and a half ago because they said “USAT Sanctioned” on the box. And if the USAT sanctions them, then they have to be good, right?
The shoes in question overlooking Los Angeles over the summer. I love these shoes.
That means they’re real triathlon shoes! Real triathletes must wear them! And I am one of those! Right? Or I try anyway. If I wear these shoes that will make me real.
OK I don’t really think that. Yes I do.
So anyways when I needed a new pair, I went to Kohls again and they still had my shoes but not in “wide” but I got them anyway, again they were marked down to $30.
And plus they’re beautiful.
And I love them.
I don’t want to say goodbye. I won’t even really know where to start with finding the right shoe. Plus I’m spoiled by $30! I don’t want to spend more! (wah.)
But now I have a rebellious toenail telling me otherwise.
I hope I’ve made your day with a post about my toe. Perhaps I’ll post another toenail obituary when the time comes.
I posted about what to do if you are losing a toenail over at the MyRaceRagz.com blog this week so feel free to check it out, or bookmark it for the future. You never know when it will be useful! (No pictures of gross toes there either.)
Have you lost any toenails (or fingernails for that matter) yet from exercising or otherwise?
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I remember the first person who told me about this whole running an losing toenails business and how I kind of died inside just for being made aware that it was such a thing. I’m sorry for both of our losses. Or something. Yours sounds so very ouch!
Maggie recently posted..Study Time
have you tried getting a half size bigger? the one and only toenail i’ve lost was in a shoe (apparently) too short in length.
brooke recently posted..Re: Eleven
Yeah, I had better luck when my shoe was bigger. I forgot that I think I had 6 1/2 last time and got a 6 this time. Drats!
Christie O. recently posted..Roughly One Toenail a Year. Ish.
one of my biggest running fears is losing a toenail. I haven’t yet, but have had plenty of bloody socks!
Heather Montgomery recently posted..Beach Vacation part 2
After my first half, my toenail was black – and I thought for sure I was going to lose it (which grossed me out to no end!) Thankfully it didn’t – but it’s still growing out all misshapen. But like many others – I have had my share of bloody socks. What we do for running!
Megan recently posted..A Place for my Bling
gahhh I hate losing toenails! I lost one a couple weeks ago after a long run and then last week I went to get a pedicure…yah, it was awkward…I told the girl just to paint my toe haha.
as for shoes, if you’re running a lot, you should probably invest some money into them…I know they are SUPER pricey but it’s worth it and your feet (and shins and knees and body) will thank you in the long run! As for finding them, a lot of running stores now provide a service for free where they video tape you running, analyze your gait, and analyze your foot (for arch and where you carry your weight in your feet, ect) and then they give you options of the best shoes for you!
I go to road runner sports for this, but I know the running company also offers this. And also, roadrunnersports.com is road runner’s website and if you become a VIP member, you can get some great deals! And if you find a shoe you like, when they are “endangered” (aka going to be discontinued) they will email you let you know so you can stock up!
Hope this helps!
kate recently posted..Orange Dreamsicle Smoooooooothie
You’re so right, time to just suck it up and find a good shoe!! We have a few places here that do the gait analyzation, it’s probably really helpful to know anyway for form too. Definitely great info on “endangered” shoes! I’d hate to fall in love only to have them go away!
Christieo recently posted..Roughly One Toenail a Year. Ish.
Surprisingly, I haven’t lost any toenails to exercise. Not that my feet look pretty in sandals because they don’t. I get blisters instead. And not just one a year. I’d consider them more of a badge of honour if they didn’t hurt so much.
Steph @fitmomtraining recently posted..Wordless Wednesday
I feel like an oddball cuz I haven’t ever lost a toenail when running….and I wear my yoga sandals pretty much all time unless i’m running and don’t care what my feet look like! LOL
Tara Burner recently posted..100 Calorie or Less Healthy Snacks
My friend kicked my big toenail off when I was in high school. It was the worst pain I have ever experienced!! The next summer, I dropped something on my other foot and that big toenail fell off too! It was an awful few months for me!!!
Kelly @ Laughter, Strength, and Food recently posted..Old Man Winter
Ohmigosh that’s awful! OUCH!!!!
Christieo recently posted..Roughly One Toenail a Year. Ish.