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July 30, 2006
Has This Happened to Anyone Else?
The following is kind of gross: The skin on the front of my left big toe is splitting. It's somewhat painful when running downhill. It bled today while I was running. I'm not sure how it all started; one day about a week ago I noticed what looked like a toe paper cut running vertically along the front fleshy bit of my big toe. It wasn't so bad then, but it just keeps splitting open as the days go by. I tried butterfly bandaids and open-toed shoes for a bit, and that helped until I ran again and everything resplit. I tried duct taping it closed while running and that didn't work. Has this happened to anyone else?
Thank you for your interest in My Secret Plan! I wish I could tell you all, but I can't yet. I will reveal all as soon as I am able, I promise.
I ran 1:20-ish on forest service logging roads today. I tried to get up high, where it wasn't so hot. Try as I might, it was still hot up there around 8,000 feet. I carried Gatorade this time, and this was a smart choice. We (me and the dog) crossed 2 creeks and we both partook in the chilly water of each creek, which was akin to heaven! There were a few other recreaters up there, 3 folks and their horses, berrypickers, 1 mountain biker, and a few campers (and no bears); it was nice to have a little company out in the wilderness.
The most interesting part of my run was the full view I had up high on these roads of the wildland fire north of Yellowstone National Park. The billowing plume of white smoke was tremendous, boiling and broiling into its own weather system of sorts. We've heard that homes and outbuildings have burned. We know that dozens of people have been evacuated. We know that more than 1000 acres of forest is burning hot and fast. It's a rather intimidating fire in its own right, and, additionally, very difficult to manage on any level with the continued heat, low humidity, and strong winds. It's sad to see people in distress, losing their homes and livelihoods. Someday, when I'm a grown-up, I want to have my own home in the woods, perched high on a hillside, with an outstanding view. Big, dangerous, violent fires, I guess, will be a scary, potential piece of that lifestyle. That gives me something to ponder while looking at the big smoke clouds.
Posted by Meghan at July 30, 2006 8:47 PM
Comments
While not exactly the same thing, I've got a toe issue of my own. At the edge of the nail on the left side of my big toe there is an irritation that's just under the skin. I've dug at it a little and some goop has come up, but it's still sensitive to pressure. I could feel it on my run this morning, but it's not too bad to make me take a day off.
Posted by: brian at July 31, 2006 11:26 AM
Army medics carry superglue with them. I suppose it's worth a shot. Try it giving sufficient time to dry and then cover it up with duct tape.
Posted by: duncan at July 31, 2006 12:18 PM
Vit. E oil, or olive oil: a light dab, couple of drops just to moisten affected area and stick the big toe directly in the hot sun. Sizzle suturing. Best if there is a breeze. Use an electric fan or blow on it.
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at July 31, 2006 2:20 PM
I used to have that happen all the time when I was young. All summer, my big toes would have deep crevasses in the skin on the bottom. Some would go quite deep.
I gave up going barefoot, for the most part, which helped. Beyond that, I was never really sure what caused it, or how to get rid of it.
Good luck.
Posted by: warren at July 31, 2006 4:24 PM