Runners toenails :(

[whitepearl17]

So I love running and regularly compete in 10k's and half marathons. I have now lost 2 toe nails (including a big toe one) and have another 3 that are dying. I hate it, usually always have my toe nails painted bright pretty colours, how can I avoid this??

I had this when training for a 10k. Lost 3 toenails in the process! My mistake was running in trainers that were too small. I bought a pair half a size bigger, and no problems since!. That was over a year ago, and I run 2/3 times a week.

Thank you whoami that could be an issue, although I have had proper fittings and gait analysis for both my road and trail shoes.

I had my shoes fitted on a treadmill/computer but they gave me blisters. I think they fitted them to my feet perfectly, but I needed a bigger size for when my feet expanded while running.

My shoes are always at least 1 size bigger then my normal shoes. Also regularly trim my toenails, but especially before longer runs. For trail shoes I had a pair that really bashed my toes; I stick with Innov8 shoes in standard fitting now, they are really roomy in the toe box

I hear you.

After running for a good few years I have just lost one toenail, and bruised another.

The one which fell off was on the toe next to my little toe - it went black, then just loosened. There was a teeny nail underneath which is growing fine. No pain.

The other is my big toe- I have used a lot of nail polish this summer in order to wear sandals.

My shoes are a full size larger than my feet- and wide. So i don't know why this happened.

I am on a couple of running forums/fb groups and it seems very common even if you take precautions.

Check that your running shoes have at least a thumbprint between the end of your longest toe (this is not always the big toe) and the end of your shoe. When weightbearing you should not be able to feel the end of the shoe. Likewise when running your toes should not hit the end of the shoe.
Stating the obvious - fasten your laces snugly, but not too tight. Never keep your laces fastened and slip your trainers on.
Some running are more pointed in the toe box than others, compare.
You may also lose big toe nails through trauma from a malfunctioning first metatarsal joint. The big toe hits the roof of the shoe and not the end.
Unless a Podiatrist with more than a passing interest in biomechanics carried out your gait analysis I would hold too much store by it.