The Flapping Toenail; Another Side Effect of Marathoning

I have no shame in posting this image of my darkened toenails. Halloween is coming.I've tracked my running mileage since 1993 but have not kept a tally of toenails lost over the last 20 years.

It doesn't happen often happen all the time. I'd estimate about 10 of them through the years.  But they happen. Sometimes randomly.

A week ago after a shower I noticed something tugging on my 2nd toe. I looked down and saw that it was my blackened toenail, flapping around like a sail. It doesn't hurt, but it isn't ready to fall off yet on its own.

So I leave it be. I have to be really careful putting my socks on. But one morning or night soon, I will have a not-so-beautiful new toenail on my left foot.

It is usually the 2nd toe on both feet that takes the brunt of the impact. But somehow at this particular moment I have not one, not two, but three darkened toenails. I'm past the point of being vane about my toes.

A flapping toenail has never stopped me from running. That's the most important thing, to me at least. Long distance running and toe modeling don't mix.