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44. Failing Better: How to Learn From a DNF

Feb 11, 2026 · 18 min

In ultra running, failure is part of the sport. If you stay in this long enough, you will experience it. The real question is not whether you will fail, but whether failure will stop you or make you stronger.

In this episode, I talk about why DNFs and missed goals feel so threatening, and how fear of failure quietly shapes the races you choose, and most importantly, how to fail better. Failing better is not about avoiding DNFs. It is about learning deeply from them so you race smarter, build real confidence, and keep improving over decades.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/44

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