Sometimes it's good to fail in sport...........and here's why!

Most of us are type-A folk: driven, focused and highly competitive in our chosen endurance sport. But I'm here today - as a coach - to tell you that sometimes it's not just OK to fail, it's good to fail. Surprised? Let me explain.

Andy Murray has my sympathies. I can only imagine how tough it feels to put yourself out there on a world-level sporting stage, watched by millions, as the reigning Champion… only to fail in the ultimate quest. But does failure have its benefits?

Failing can sharpen us up. Narrow our focus. Reignite the fire of motivation and make us more creative. If we decide to stick with the pursuit, it can make us work harder (and smarter). If we calmly choose to step away, it can open up new worlds of possibility which we may not otherwise have considered.

Fear of failure is a very adult (and human) thing. Little kids don't tend to fear failing at all, in fact they lack the concept. It's not until later in childhood that they learn about failure and, depending on their experiences, feel it's something scary or embarrassing.

A true fear of failure can be very limiting, stopping us from taking risks, from learning new skills and from progressing. Imagine if your fear of failure had stopped you from ever entering a marathon, from clipping in to your tri bike, from putting your head under the surface of open water. Life would be very different, right?

Failing gives us a really valuable opportunity to learn from our mistakes, to try new approaches and to identify gaps in our skills or experiences. It also encourages us not to make our goals into our identities. This is a common thing in endurance sport: people are "the Ironman" or "the marathon runner", but when injury strikes, or race-day disaster leads to a DNF, the person feels crushed and humiliated, and question who they really are. Balance is important, and small failures in sport can encourage us not to tie our identities too closely with sporting success.

Failures also discourage us from being utter perfectionists (something a lot of us are prone to!). Trying hard is always good, and aiming for greatness is admirable, but a focus on perfection can get in the way of true progress.

At the end of the day, we're all human, and failure is simple human error. What matters more is how you deal with failure, what you learn from it, and how you choose to let it affect you. Failing is part and parcel of being an athlete.

How do you feel about failure? Have you ever failed in sport? I'd love to know how you coped, and whether it really mattered in the long-term.