Failure and Patience | Sequence App

This post is about why embracing failure and patience as a climber are key ingredients to improving and growing.

If you are seasoned veteran or new to climbing, you’ll understand that getting to the top of climbs is extremely rare. It’s a sport that has a lot of failures.

Dealing with failure, turning the outcomes into actions and being content with the process is no easy feat.

Having put a considerably amount of effort into these areas over the last few years I have developed massively as a climber and believe if you are willing to get a little uncomfortable you’ll also be greatly rewarded.

Understanding Failure in Climbing

Naturally failure is inherent in climbing. This aspect is one of the biggest reasons people get hooked and get so much out of the sport.

The failure, succeed loop is addictive.

Climbers tend to really thrive seeing progression after failure. At least when things are going well (getting to the top of climbs on a regular basis). As soon as there is a plateau in performance a lot of the enjoyments is taken away. This is where it is extremely important to view failure not as a setback but as a learning opportunity and a necessary step towards improvement.

The lightbulb moment for me to realise this was during multiple seasons trying The Wheel of Life in the Grampians.

One particular year, I had made multiple trips and each trip I was seeing a decline in performance, even though I had the best preparation in years. This wasn't easy to accept but I knew I had to change my mindset to get the most out of the situation. In turn, this led to breakthroughs in my climbing ability and was very fortunate to complete the climb the following season.

The Role of Patience in Climbing

In today’s world it feels like everything is buying for our attention and the act of being patient is the anti-pattern.

All good things take time

I must admit, patience is far from my strong point but something that has been really beneficial is learning to be patient with my climbing.

It’s easy to get caught up in the result but I would highly recommend being present with the process.

Improving your patience not only helps you enjoy the sport more. It helps with the demanding mental aspect and ensures you stay motivated and resilient.

Turning Failures into Actionable Steps

Failures in climbing can be some of the most valuable learning experiences, but only if you take the time to analyse them thoroughly. Understanding why a climb was unsuccessful and identifying areas for improvement is essential for progress.

Here are some strategies to help you assess and action your failures effectively:

Reflect

While the experience is fresh, jot down your thoughts. Where you struggled, any specific moves that caused difficulty how you felt both physically and mentally. Document the conditions and any other aspect that you think play a part in the experience.
Whenever possible, record your climbs to review later. Video footage can provide a clear visual representation of your technique, body positioning, and movement efficiency. It also helps with preparation for training like understanding the time it takes to climb certain sections which can then be replicated on an indoor wall.
Watch videos of other climbers on the same route, especially those who have successfully completed it. Compare their techniques and strategies to your own.
Ask peers and coaches for feedback. Getting input from more experienced climbers, coaches, or climbing partners can be super beneficial. It can fast track your learning.
Be open to criticism. Constructive feedback is invaluable. Embrace it with an open mind and use it to guide your improvement efforts.
Track progress. Maintain a log of your attempts. Over time, this will reveal patterns and help you identify what has and hasn’t worked.

Develop a Plan

Set specific goals. Based on your analysis, set targeted goals to address weaknesses.
Create actionable steps. Break down your goals into small, manageable steps. This approach makes it easier to track progress and stay motivated.
Implement focused training. Based off your goals, create and plan blocks of training that are targeted.

Analysing failures is essential to improve as a climber. By assessing performance, identifying weaknesses, implementing targeted training, you can transform setbacks into growth opportunities.

Developing Patience

Patience is essential for climbing success. Progress can be slow and filled with setbacks. By embracing patience, you will build mental resilience, find joy in the journey, and achieve a more fulfilling climbing experience.

Here are some strategies to help improve patience within your climbing practice:

Mindfulness. Introduce mindfulness techniques (e.g. meditation, deep breathing, ...) to help manage frustration and stay present.
Journal. Keeping a climbing journal to reflect on failures, successes and progress. Getting your thoughts on paper can help you process emotions and maintain perspective.
Stay positive. Maintain a positive mindset through the journey.
Community. To improve and get the most out of yourself it is important to climb and train with a supportive community that shares experiences and encourages tenacity.

Embracing failure and developing patience are crucial for climbing improvement. These traits help you turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and foster a resilient mindset that keeps you motivated.

By analysing failures, setting actionable goals, and practicing patience, you can achieve significant progress and enjoy a more fulfilling climbing experience.

Remember, every attempt is a step forward in the right direction.