FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

Reason #11 why we don't run marathons, frostbite induced amputation. This was the case for runner Andrew Wells of Davenport, Iowa after running a 64 mile race in frigid conditions. Wells, running an ultra marathon at 14 below, discusses the aftermath with Iowa's KWWL.com :

"I knew that something was wrong, so we got some warm water and we put my feet in a bucket and tried to get them to warm up for a couple of hours and after that I still had some pretty bad purple color in my feet," Wells said. "My feet were sweating and the sweat soaked through my wool socks and it got trapped between my wool socks and my waterproof socks and when I took my waterproof socks off I realized I had some snow and ice built up around my socks."

Now, Wells is waiting at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to have at least two toes amputated. "He has six of his ten toes that do not have normal blood flow. We know two for sure are going to be gone. Three more, I'm concerned about," Dr. Barbara Latenser said.

One of the two toes to be amputated is the big toe on his right foot. "They say 70% of your balance comes from your big toe and 30% from the other toes. I think it'll be an adjustment to get my balance back, before I can get back on my feet normally. It's definitely something I can live with, and still compete with," Wells said.

Not to be deterred by something as small as losing most of his toes, Andrew hopes to run again, this time in warmer climates. Das FanHaus wishes him the best of luck.