My special toes courtesy of Spa Academy

Ah… the saga of the toe. This is a sad tale of a marathon, a ruined toe, and deeply disturbed blog readers. Fortunately, it has a happy ending.

The story begins in 2001 when I ran my first (and only marathon). Actually, I sort of walk/limped the marathon but that’s another story.  I was wearing the only pair of running shoes that I have ever NOT got from Brainsport. Because of poor advice and lack of experience, the shoes did not it properly and both my big toenails took a terrible beating. By the end of the race they had both turned black. The right foot recovered and the toenail returned to normal. The left foot never did. The biog toenail fell off and ever since it’s been a gnarled yellow/green lump that barely grow.

Wind the clock forward to 2008. By this time I have forgotten how hideous my left big toenail is. Not giving it a second thought, I post some pictures on this blog (CLICK HERE for the original post). Apparently, I  have hideous feet – truly ugly. At least this is the opinion of several blog readers, my co-hosts, my children, and my wife (I had no idea my feet were that hideous). Like a lifeline to a drowning man, Jill from Spa Academy offered to save me. On Wednesday I let Veronica at Spa Academy work her magic.

Here is the offending toe and Veronica prior to work starting.

Her plan was to reconstruct the toenail and only then deliver a complete pedicure. I had no idea that such a complete reconstruction was possible.

Step one: Using a tool that seemed very similar to a Dremel or a dentist’s drill Veronica ground down the toenail until it was smooth and low.

Step two: Apply an acrylic (?) that is hardened using UV light, much like a filling in a dentist’s office.

Step three:  A little shaping a buffing and voila, a new toenail.

It’s not something that all estheticians do but you can rebuild a mutant toenail – something to consider if you have a gross toenail that you are self-conscious about during sandal season.

After reconstruction Veronica gave me a complete pedicure. She asked, “Do you want your toenails painted?”

“Sure. Do whatever you want,” I replied.

And… well… she did. Behold the beauty that is TIGER TOES.

Thanks Veronica. Thanks Jill. Thanks Marie.

I am a tiger!