British runner Eilish McColgan revealed the extent of the gruesome injury, after part of her foot “exploded” during the London Marathon on Sunday.
McColgan, daughter of Scottish running legend Liz, still managed to cross the line in a time of 02:24:51, good enough to come seventh in the women’s elite race with a time just 26 seconds off her 2025 PB despite the injury.
Images from the race show blood seeping through the 35-year-old’s right shoe after her toe ripped open.
And after the race, McColgan said it “felt like her foot exploded”, showing the lengths elite athletes go to in the pursuit of greatness.
On Monday morning, she took to Instagram to share further details about the injury, and to clear up some misinformation about what may have caused the issue.
The caption to the post read: “Ooft! Sore body this morning!
“My last three weeks have been challenging to say the least… from a foot niggle, to tweaking my glute ten days out, to waking up a few days before race day covered in a purple rash. Why is it SO hard to make a marathon start line!?
“I’ve seen a bit of misinformation online regarding my foot so thought I’d clear it up: They weren’t new shoes or socks. I’ve worn them all year for my training and racing with zero issues.
“They aren’t too small and my toenails are totally fine. Part of my toe was ripped open and we aren’t sure why it happened as it’s never been an issue before.
“The only thing we can think of is that maybe my feet were swollen?! Even the day before the marathon, the rash had spread down to my calves. We still don’t know what it was.. as it would come and go throughout the day! But we think that perhaps played a part…
“Anyways, proud of another marathon finish! And THANK YOU for all the cheers around the course. It was insane and genuinely got me through to the finish line!”
The post was accompanied by a series of images of her injury, including one which showed the sole of her right foot with the skin detached from the bottom of her fourth toe.
Another image shows McColgan’s blood-drenched sock and shoe at the end of the race.
The post quickly received a number of supportive comments from fans, with one commenter writing: “How you finished in that time… with that foot??! You are awesome. Be really proud”.
In an interview shortly after the race, McColgan said that she went to see the doctor after crossing the line, as she couldn’t put any pressure through her foot.
She said: “Just not long after halfway, I had a really, really bad blister in my foot. It sounds strange saying it, but the only way I can say it is I felt like my foot just exploded.
“I just had this massive tear and I thought, what the hell is that? It was obviously pretty sore, but for it to happen quite early on, it panicked me a little bit.”
Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa won the women’s elite race with a time of 02:15:41.
McColgan was the fastest European and British finisher, ahead of fellow Brit Rose Harvey who came ninth with a time of 02:26:14.
