Ponch Morgey

As someone who hasn't washed AT ALL in four and a half years now (no, not even with water), I can tell you this is 100% true. The idea that humans simply smell terrible to each other by default is one of the most ridiculous, unhealthy, and widespread myths of our time. First of all, no, my nose didn't simply "get used to my own smell". My wife, who still washes (because she enjoys it), says I don't smell at all, and no other member of my family complains about me smelling (and believe me, some of them wouldn't dream of missing the opportunity to tell me I stink, if indeed I did). This idea that people just keep smelling worse and worse if they stop washing is completely ridiculous, and only folks who have zero experience with not washing for extended periods of time believe it. Same for all the silly horror stories about rashes, infections, and thick crusts of dirt accumulating on your skin. You can see my body in the picture. Do you see any of that? Healthy human skin is self-cleaning. People simply destroy their skin's microbiome by constantly scrubbing themselves with aggressive cleaning agents. Then, when they get dirty and sweaty, there's nothing on that barren moonscape of a skin to clean the mess up and they start smelling. You smell BECAUSE you wash (too much). Likewise, your hair gets oily BECAUSE you constantly shampoo it. Years ago, I had to wash my hair twice a day for it not to get greasy. Now, I never wash it and it's never greasy. The good news is that if you stop washing, your skin and hair will heal, and you will no longer smell by default. The bad news is that you WILL smell for a few weeks, until your microbiome reestablishes itself. Wife told me this transition period wasn't too bad in my case, but your mileage may vary. On the other hand, it might take months for your hair to stop being a greasy mess, especially if it's long. The important part is not caving and washing it before the transition period ends, as this will just irritate the scalp again, and make it produce more oil. I gave you the truth, you do what you want with it.

If you're struggling in a workout or race, break it down. Get to the next lap, tree, turn, whatever. Give yourself bite size chunks that you can manage. You'd be surprised how long you can keep bargaining with yourself to make it to the next landmark.