Do I have to get used to being overtaken?

A week ago in Bala I was thinking the season was over but this week at the Dambuster I was determined to give the run a try and maybe even finish the race. Test the achilles! Hmmm.
The swim didnt go to plan. Nige was too far right and some fish like person (DS) on the left with Mike Masters dropping in on my heels for the first few hundred yards before he and someone else overtook me. A steady T1 and out onto the bike assuming everyone except Mike was up the road. How wrong I was. Only DS up the road as I had left T1 in 2nd place on the road.I did see him on the 'Ripple' up ahead. Westy came past on the 'Ripple followed by one of the fast boys from the next wave. I tried to up the pace but there was no power and i was pushing at least 3 gears too light at IM pace...maybe slower. Jas and Mal overtook me but I did catch DS at 20miles. The saving grace was I did feel like I was getting into a rythym at 20miles. I'm just not used to being caught on the bike after years of 'being a biker'.
An easy T2 to avoid the cramps I've been getting sort of worked as I got cramp in my inner thigh(thats a new one!) but I decided to run it off and finish the race. With Jase Wakely ahead and Mal Rose just behind I had an incentive. Going across the Dam I expected to see some other RAF guys but only Westy was ahead after I caught Jase. Confused I was. Maybe it was oxygen debt. The run went well if not slower than I'm used to but I was pleased to finish and hold off Jase for third. I didnt know I was overtaken by a RAF person(DS) because he didnt have the kit. An inherent problem we seem to have every year with suppliers! Would I have held him off?? maybe/maybe not. I did 2:03 a few years ago then did an Ironman a week later. This time it was 2:12 with an early season Ironman.
As it is my legs are screaming for mercy despite a post race massage. I did go for a gentle cycle ride tonight to try and ease them ready for some work prior to the Sprint Champs. See you there. God this short stuff hurts!

Bala middle distance swin amd bike

it's been ages since i wrote anything online because i've been busy writing assignment and there's no point writing if i'm not training.
I got back from the training camp and tweaked my right achilles and have spent the last few weeks trying to get over that.
Today was the National Champs in Bala where I had I got a silver in 2005. It's one of the hardest races I have completed but today I didn't even get that far.
I had a good swim coming in about 7th in the vets wave. No splits yet! The bike leg started ok but I was obviously not in the mood or frame of mind to do well. My plan was to work hard on the way out and expected a tail wind home. Going into the turn I saw Jase Wakeley and was probably a few mins up due to the 10 min gap in waves. After the turn I made a few places but then started to lose them rapidly for no reason. It felt like riding with the brakes on. The return journey over the mountain was awful. I was dying! I'm sure there was a guy with trainers on and no straps who over took me. Bloody awful is an understatement. I took T2 easy reflecting on the Brize Norton event and set off easy to test the achilles tendon. hmmmm
A steady jog around the lake gave plenty of thinking time. My hips were hurting and then back ache and then the dreaded cramp I always get at Bala. Add to that the achilles injury that seemed to feel like it was building in pressure and after only a mile and a half I stopped, turned around and walked a long walk of self shame. Save the success for another day is the way I'm thinking. Analysis over, shame banished, move on.
Try again next week then it's a long few months of proper assessment and treatment ready for an Ironman.