The Ultrarunner’s Toenail Fairy
I received the following email and pictures last week and thought I’d share it with you. This is the type of stuff that makes me heart warm and smile.
Eric,
I have one for your “Black Toenail Hall of Fame.” Nothing too special about the nail or the picture of the toe itself (for, as you say, us crazy bunch of people that are desensitized to things like this).
The funny thing was the note I received from my son. This was a couple of weeks after Leadville this past August. I had one casualty nail. Of course being father, what do you do in these situations? Call in my oldest (9 years old) and try to gross him out as the nail is mostly detached but still hanging on for it’s last breath before surrendering its life in the call of duty.
I noticed something on my pillow as I was getting ready for bed that night. He had written me a note from what he called the Toenail Fairy the next morning and left me a dollar bill. This just cracked me up. Kids only have 20 baby teeth, but we ultramarathoner’s have ten toes and nails keep growing back. Maybe you can make money after all in running ultras.
Thank you for everything that you do for the ultra community!
MT