Training structure thoughts

[light_sabe_r]

what distance you mostly train for (though I probably know most of your big events of the season).

I've only been doing these for one year... I did try a full sprint in the QTS series but placed dead last... So I've decided to improve my position before moving up to the QTS sprint distances. I hope to do Noosa in two years. ^_^
The distances I will be racing will mixed between
200m, 5km, 2km and 300m, 13km, 3km depending on the venue and race organiser

-Do you train to focus on your weakest area, or do you try to strengthen your best areas and not worry about the weaker area(s)? If you somehow manage to do both, what kind of balance do you achieve?

I'm focusing on swimming by getting coached twice a week. I honestly could not get any worse in the swimming leg so financially I've invested the most in that. That being said whilst focussing on your weakness you should also maintain your strengths. The distance I commute to work everyday which is the same ride distance as my enticer. So I just keep track of my times and look for improvements. As for running, I do that when I feel like it. I want to try and get a few open water swims in as a part of my training too since all our tris are in open salt water.

-Do you aim to do each discipline X times a week? How many?

Swimming - Twice a week (1 hour coached sessions each)
Riding - Almost Everyday, (TWICE a day about 15min... But I'll throw in a long ride on a sunday or monday and a timetrial on a criterium circuit on a friday after work)
Running - Three days a week (30min sessions)

-Do you do strength training year round, or just in the offseason?

I do my strength training at work. As the odd jobs girl I'm constantly lifting and shifting items in our lab. They're not exactly LIGHT...
If you're incorporating resistance (swimming) you're doing similar execises to strength training. Strength exercises will help but I'm focusing more on technique currently... then maybe later I'll focus on becoming stronger and faster. I HIGHLY advocate stretching though.

-Do you do multiple workouts a day, and if so, do you do them at the same time, or separated?

That depends. Yup I do multiple workouts each day. I ride my bike to the pool, do my swim session then ride my bike to work. I'll run in the morning then ride to work.

A really good book is The Woman Triathlete by Christina Gandolfo Not only is it a good read it gives you ideas to structure your own plans.
Here's how I structure my weeks usually based on the ideas out of her book:
Monday: Long Ride
Tuesday: Swim Squad including transition ride to work
Wednesday: Long run and Ride to work
Thursday: Swim Squad including transition ride to work
Friday: Shorter Run and reverse transtion ride to work and time trial
Saturday: Rest Day
Sunday: Interval Running or EVENT DAY
I try and keep my disciplines 1 day seperate. (Impossible for the bike because it's also a form of transport... So I don't "GO HARD" on the commutes). I won't do a long run on the same day I'm doing a time trial. I won't do a long ride after swimming for an hour. Sure you should consider doing a long swim than a long ride if you're training for an iron man... But not for the distances I'm looking at currently.

So, I guess the fundamental question is, how can I get excited and focused on the goals I do pick, if it also makes me feel like I am going to take a setback in another area?

For the first part of the fundamental question, How can you get excited?? Only you can answer that tygab. What motivates you to do this?? Is it for your own personal satisfaction? Is it for the encouragement and kudos you get here on TE???
As a Motivational tool I'm using beginner triathlete. I don't know who put me onto it initially but it's a great way to track your progress and set up for races. I just like seeing the pretty graphs get bigger and bigger each week. It also reminds me what my goals are every time I log in so I stay focused on them.
Don't worry about "set back" in another area. Heck if you can only run once a week just run once a week? If you can't get to a pool everyday just get there when you can and make the most of it. It's better to be out there doing something when you can than nothing at all.

In Winter, I kept fit by riding to work everyday, Running when I felt like it and lots of stretching and housework. (HOUSEWORK IS FITNESS!!) I also took up the 10000 steps per day challenge and have been wearing a pedometer since july to monitor progress.

Dunno If I've answered you questions the way you wanted... But I hope it helps...