Reed Dunn, Senior Recruitment Marketing Manager:

This is the story of my first black toenail. It’s also the story of how I’m going to run a race in practically new shoes.

My first half marathon was two weeks away when I ran eight miles to come home and notice one of my toenails was turning black. It’s a common occurrence for distance runners, but it was a first for me.
The Rock ’n’ Roll half marathon in Las Vegas is the culmination of a big fitness goal for me, and I’ve started getting concerned about pre-race issues. Like the black toenail.

I have been training for the race in the same pair of Nike shoes for the last several months. It turns out the shoes may have been a bit tight near my toes for the type of terrain running I’ve been doing. The result? My first black toenail.

So, to avoid any further issues with my preparations, I talked with a few friends and determined it was OK for me to start with a fresh pair of shoes – as long as I get some running in between that time and race day on Dec. 4.

I went off to the Nike store and struggled to decide which shoes may be my best bet. Ultimately, I chose the same pair – in a different color combination – only a size larger.

This week I begin breaking in the shoes. Next week, I get on a plane for Las Vegas to run the race. While I’m nervous, I’m still feeling very prepared from a training perspective. Let’s just hope no more issues stand between me and crossing that finish line on the famous Las Vegas strip.

Reed Dunn is senior recruitment marketing manager at Alere Wellbeing. Follow his journey with regular updates on the Alere Wellbeing blog, as he prepares to run his first half marathon on December 4 in Las Vegas.