Toenails

The stupidest things.  It's the stupidist things that get in the way.

I am chugging along, on track.  Haven't missed a single workout on the way to this marathon -- batting a thousand.  Until now.  I've got 16 miles to run this weekend, and it's going to be the stupidest thing that won't allow me to do it.

A toenail.  Or rather, the lack of a toenail.

Runners lose toenails.  Usually because shoes are too small.  Me?  I lost a toenail because way back in April, I dropped a big piece of wood on my foot.  My big toenail turned black.  And fell off this week.  Ok, it didn't totally fall off, I had to give it a little yank.  And that was enough that now it's big, it's red, and I'm in pain. 

Excruciating pain.  Limping, hard to walk pain.  Stupid "how could a toe hurt this bad" pain.  I managed to get through Thursday's miles, but my shins and hamstring told me that I was altering my gait to compensate.  Two days later I think I'm at peak toe pain, and the only thing stupider than this toe would be to run 16 miles with a wonky toe-avoiding-gait.  I'm not risking it, things are going too well.  Other than the toe, that is.

Send me your toe healing thoughts.  If it's better tomorrow, I'll be out there in the park.