Failure or learning?

Over three separate occasions this week people have used the word failure, for, what I would consider, a change of plan or outcome, a doomsday premonition of something that has not yet happened and a statement more about the concept of perception, along the lines of...

What are you capable of?

I recently completed my first ever marathon, in 4hrs 24 minutes (stopped my watch for a loo break).  It was an incredible experience and I knew it would go one of two ways, be so painful I would be happy to have achieved it but never want to do one again, or within...