Surgically Removing Toenails?

wejo wrote:

I just talked to a reporter from the NY Times about runners surgically removing their toenails so they don't have to deal with blackened toenails.

I think I've lost one toenail ever and that was from dropping something on it, so I'm clearly not aware of the extent of this problem.

Anyone out there done this themselves or know of anyone (what about pros?) doing this? Sounds like it may be a thing more for the ultra types.

I had a blackened big toe once just as a result of running, and the whole nail fell of on its own. A big toe sans nail looks like a McNugget.

I have had several of my toenails permanently and surgically removed. My toes are slightly bent, not very noticeably but enough so that no matter what kind of shoes I wear for a 50+ mile run I tend to wind up with bruised toenails. The toenails have fallen off and grown back so much that now when they grow back they grow in crooked or not fully developed. My podiatrist recommended that I get a few removed, and eventually all of them.

I have had several of my toenails permanently and surgically removed. My toes are slightly bent, not very noticeably but enough so that no matter what kind of shoes I wear for a 50+ mile run I tend to wind up with bruised toenails. The toenails have fallen off and grown back so much that now when they grow back they grow in crooked or not fully developed. My podiatrist recommended that I get a few removed, and eventually all of them.