Time and distance are the same.

That doesn't make sense. For instance is your plan to ride 100 miles or 5 hours. Run for 10 miles or 2 hours? They might match up some of the time but most of the time they will be different.

Train based on time. You have to fit the sport in your life so it’s easier from a time management perspective.

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USAT Level II- Ironman U Certified Coach

It depends.
If I am doing a HIIT workout, the total miles is less important.
I do look at mileage on a long brick (obviously looking at time/speed also).
I think your best answer is both.

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Team Zoot So Cal

You should know your goal pace for each workout. Therefore, time is distance.

My bike and run workouts are all based off of time. My swims are all distance.

^This is such a sensible way to put it - way easier to manage your day with time based workouts.

Also, it often doesn't make sense to go based on distance - for example, a hill-climbing bike workout can be half the distance of a flat bike workout, but the same amount of time (and same amount of effort/energy expended).

I don't think that is correct. You should know your target range. Moreover, if you are training with power...or on hills...or on a flat...etc...that has a major impact on distance and time should you choose to use one of those.

Moral of the story...train for time.

Your body does not know distance. It only registers time and intensity.
So training should be done according to time and intensity, provided you know which values of time and intensity are best to improve.

Disclaimer: As to swimming, that I also do acc. to distance.

Thanks everyone for the responses. That is kinds what i figured bike and run for time, swim for distance.

It's just units of measure.

But, I'd say there's two camps. Are you looking to finish an event within a cutoff or are you trying to improve a time/finishing position?

I do bikes, but just because I know I can easily ride the distance of the event doesn't dictate that's the end point of the training. There's either intensity or duration required that may take you well beyond the "distances" prescribed to "finish" an event.

Imagine training to distance on a really flat/fast area but your event is really hilly. Training to distance wouldn't work out so well!

NOPE.