training programs?

So, I have a question. Experienced triathletes, how do you train? Do you all have coaches? Online coaches? Follow some structured program? My husband will never let me spend $200 a month on coaching for my new hobby. Is there a plan in a book I should follow if I want to improve for next year? I was looking at Beginner triathlete--does anyone have experience with their training plans? And, what do you think would help?

I just did my first triathlon, and I had fun, but I want to be faster for next year. My method of training for this one was, try to swim twice a week, bike twice a week and run 2-3 times a week.

Thanks!

I log all my work outs, your body will tell you what hurts, what feels good, and what needs work. I am on www.slowtwitch.com all the time, those folks are hard core! For now I would concentrate on timing your workouts. I have a good friend with a high class trainer for a 1/2 ironman, her workouts start with time. A one hour bike, and a 30 minute run, etc. Start out slow but try and combine every once in a while a "brick" workout.
High cadence, low resistance on the bike and the speed will come. Just keep it steady and if you overdo, take a step back. Also take a look at active.com, they have a lot of free training programs for tri's. Hope that helps! Good luck, tri's are addicting!

BeginnerTriathlete.com has lots of plans, some free, with additional plans for different membership levels. Several of us log our training over there. I'm MDHillSlug there, too.

I used one of the BT free plans (the sprint run-focused one) for my first tri this year and felt like it I was well prepared, even though I missed several workouts. I log over there as well, and have learned a ton from reading their forums.

I have an online coach but he lives about 30 minutes from me. I see him a couple of times a year to get tested for HR zones on my bike and run (am a duathlete). There are plenty of free programs that you can access as others have mentioned earlier. Also, you might be able to find someone locally, someone that is just starting to coach who may be a little less expensive than $200/month.

I instruct a course a few times a year to make money for my addiction. Christmas and birthdays I ask for bike/run related stuff (a few months of coaching?)

A wonderful resource that I refer to a lot is Joe Friel's "The Triathlete's Training Bible." He will guide you through the stuff you need to know to coach yourself and set up a training plan for the year..... if you have the inclination...I don't, which is why I pay someone to do it for me......

http://www.amazon.ca/Triathletes-Tra...3263069&sr=8-1

I've seen the Triathlete's training bible. If it's anything like the Cylist's Training Bible, it has lots of good information but it kind of difficult to follow. Or maybe I just have ADD:)