Hardcore Runners Elect to be "DeClawed"

I came across an interesting article in the New York times today (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22FITNESS.html) about "Ultramarathoners" (runners who run for 50-100 miles at a time) who get their toenails permanently removed to prevent problems with pain while they are running. Runners of any distance can have problems with their toenails. They usually will get either ingrown nails or bleeding underneath the nail (subungal hematoma). This can often be bad enough that they have to stop their run to either receive treatment or treat themselves. To remove the nail the patient is given a couple "Novocaine" injections to numb the toe, then the toenail is removed, and the matrix or "root" is treated with a small amount of acid to keep the nail from growing back. While some people may think this is extreme I think that for the right person it makes perfect sense. Toenails really serve no purpose So loosing a toenail or two (or ten) has no long term consequence other than cosmetically. I have several patients, whom I call part of the "declawed club", that have had all of their toenails removed and are extremely happy with the result. (Many of the women still apply toenail polish to the ends of their toes so that you hardly notice that they are gone.)