They turn purple then fall off. Anyone experience this or know why it happens?
my guess is your running shoes are too small.
I have heard that before. My shoes fit fine. This year I started to wear socks because I was having blister problems when I moved from Olympic distance to Halfs and full IM. I do notice my toes are having less and less room in the toe box as the race goes on. Like my socks are getting pulled on really hard.
Your shoes do not “fit fine” if your toenails are falling off. Sounds like your feet are swelling up as the race goes on. You either need to figure out why and correct it, buy bigger shoes or have black/missing toenails. Maybe, take a look at the thread about drinking too much?
Cut your toenails shorter if you can (as short as you can cut them). If they are long then can get pulled up away from the nail bed and that causes them to turn purple/black and fall off.
If you cannot cut them shorter then it is likely that your shoes don’t fit as well as you think they do, or you can find better fitting shoes.
Yes, your shoes are too small. When I started running, I was a 10. Now I am an 11 in running shoes, not dress or casual, just running. Go up 1/2 size and it will be all good. The reason you heard that before is because it true.
Thanks Mac, chris G, Chiagirl and Bryancd.