3 ms·

I find it interesting that the author repeatedly emphasizes the toenail removal. For ultramarathon runners, this is not particularly unusual (https://www.thegl

I find it interesting that the author repeatedly emphasizes the toenail removal. For ultramarathon runners, this is not particularly unusual (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/you-wont-believe-what-extreme-runners-are-doing-to-their-toenails/article9545613/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/heal...).

ShabbosGoy 9y ago
My gut reaction was that it's not so different from swimmers shaving their entire bodies for increased speed and mobility in the water.
- Mz 9y ago
  It is probably more than that. I have health issues that tend to negatively impact nail growth. In my youth, my nails grew slowly and tended to be paper thin. Keeping them trimmed and short was not very challenging. After getting a proper diagnosis in my mid thirties, I have gotten steadily healthier since then. Living without a car and doing a LOT of walking has played a significant role in my improved health. One unexpected result: My feet have better circulation, so my toenails grow faster and are thicker than they used to be. Keeping them adequately trimmed has become more challenging. This fact helps foster toenail injuries because overly long nails get caught on stuff and break more than they used to. I can readily see that getting them removed would just make more sense than having them constantly injured if you are an ultra marathoner. I think walking or running a lot actively creates conflict for toenails, in part by causing them to grow faster and then exposing them to lots of opportunities to get banged up and what not.
  - chmars 9y ago
    What was your diagnosis?
    - Mz 9y ago
      That isn't really pertinent to the discussion. Though I will note that respiratory problems, blood sugar issues and circulatory problems are all known to cause things like clubbing and are generally associated with negative impacts to the digits, both hands and feet. In fact, high blood sugar disturbingly often leads to such serious foot problems that foot amputation, in part or in whole, is a very real risk for someone with inadequately controlled blood sugar.
brianwawok 9y ago
Toenails are a pain for runners. Do they have any purpose with shoes? I dont think so...
- pagnol 9y ago
  I have been running happily for years without shoes or with only minimal footwear and initially transitioned to doing so because I suffered from pain in my ankles. Perhaps if you're a runner and your toenails cause problems, you might want to give it a try, too.
  - ghthor 9y ago
    That's my hypothesis about toenails as well. If your shoes toebox is smashing up your toes, well duh, your toenails are going to get fucked up. My partner is a marathoner, she's close to finishing a marathon in all 50 states. I transitioned her to minimalist shoes, lems primal, at the beginning of this year. She went from killing her toenails about every 2 weeks to zero toenail problems. Also pretty cool, she's stopped feeling the need to take painkillers during her races. It's really sad the amount of misinformation exists regarding the minimalist shoe and barefoot movement. They've helped me overcome foot, ankle, knee, hip, and back pain. Thyeve helped my mother overcome knee pain, she's got really stronger feet and ankles now. Xeroshoes are making great products right now and doubled their revenue from last year, so proud of them! Luna sandals are also doing quite well despite all the negative information. Here's to hoping that in 30 years were all wearing shoes actually designed for our feet!!
    - pcunite 9y ago
      Here's to hoping that in 30 years were all wearing shoes actually designed for our feet!! Same here. I found Altra shoes on my journey towards foot and knee health.
- vacri 9y ago
  I had to have a large toenail removed as it grew back weirdly after it was broken at the quick. The surgeon said that there are no side-effects unless you're an elite athlete, in which case you'd lose a tiny bit of burst power. I'm far from an elite athlete; so if I was a hobbit, these days you'd call me Vacri Nine-Toenails.

ShabbosGoy 9y ago

My gut reaction was that it's not so different from swimmers shaving their entire bodies for increased speed and mobility in the water.

Mz 9y ago
It is probably more than that. I have health issues that tend to negatively impact nail growth. In my youth, my nails grew slowly and tended to be paper thin. Keeping them trimmed and short was not very challenging. After getting a proper diagnosis in my mid thirties, I have gotten steadily healthier since then. Living without a car and doing a LOT of walking has played a significant role in my improved health. One unexpected result: My feet have better circulation, so my toenails grow faster and are thicker than they used to be. Keeping them adequately trimmed has become more challenging. This fact helps foster toenail injuries because overly long nails get caught on stuff and break more than they used to. I can readily see that getting them removed would just make more sense than having them constantly injured if you are an ultra marathoner. I think walking or running a lot actively creates conflict for toenails, in part by causing them to grow faster and then exposing them to lots of opportunities to get banged up and what not.
- chmars 9y ago
  What was your diagnosis?
  - Mz 9y ago
    That isn't really pertinent to the discussion. Though I will note that respiratory problems, blood sugar issues and circulatory problems are all known to cause things like clubbing and are generally associated with negative impacts to the digits, both hands and feet. In fact, high blood sugar disturbingly often leads to such serious foot problems that foot amputation, in part or in whole, is a very real risk for someone with inadequately controlled blood sugar.

brianwawok 9y ago

Toenails are a pain for runners. Do they have any purpose with shoes? I dont think so...

pagnol 9y ago
I have been running happily for years without shoes or with only minimal footwear and initially transitioned to doing so because I suffered from pain in my ankles. Perhaps if you're a runner and your toenails cause problems, you might want to give it a try, too.
- ghthor 9y ago
  That's my hypothesis about toenails as well. If your shoes toebox is smashing up your toes, well duh, your toenails are going to get fucked up. My partner is a marathoner, she's close to finishing a marathon in all 50 states. I transitioned her to minimalist shoes, lems primal, at the beginning of this year. She went from killing her toenails about every 2 weeks to zero toenail problems. Also pretty cool, she's stopped feeling the need to take painkillers during her races. It's really sad the amount of misinformation exists regarding the minimalist shoe and barefoot movement. They've helped me overcome foot, ankle, knee, hip, and back pain. Thyeve helped my mother overcome knee pain, she's got really stronger feet and ankles now. Xeroshoes are making great products right now and doubled their revenue from last year, so proud of them! Luna sandals are also doing quite well despite all the negative information. Here's to hoping that in 30 years were all wearing shoes actually designed for our feet!!
  - pcunite 9y ago
    Here's to hoping that in 30 years were all wearing shoes actually designed for our feet!! Same here. I found Altra shoes on my journey towards foot and knee health.
vacri 9y ago
I had to have a large toenail removed as it grew back weirdly after it was broken at the quick. The surgeon said that there are no side-effects unless you're an elite athlete, in which case you'd lose a tiny bit of burst power. I'm far from an elite athlete; so if I was a hobbit, these days you'd call me Vacri Nine-Toenails.