I am one race away from completing my first tri season and well aware my swimming and biking is where I need the work. Right now my coach has me on a schedule where I spend about 40% of my time biking, 27% of my time running, 20% of my time swimming and 13% of my time weight training and I throw in additional runs. I’ve had good results in my half-IMs this year but I’d like to become more competitive next year. I have a strong running background and my favorite part of the race is passing everyone on the run as they shuffle along. When I train in addition to my coaches workouts should I be focusing on my strength or should I use this time to focus on my weaknesses?
Is your coach aware you’re including extra workouts? He/she may have some specific suggestions for you. Generally you should focus on weaknesses with any extra time.
I’ve always heard “train your weaknesses, race your strengths.”
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Definitely train your weaknesses not your strengths. That’s where you can make the time up.
So factor that in and combine with the fact that most of the time of a tri is on the bike leg, then the run and finally the swim. The coach probably has the balance right to be honest.
I too have heard “train your weaknesses, race your strengths.”
In addition…I think you are very fortunate to have a coach 
SO…the first thing that comes to mind is (and I’m not trying to be inflamatory but…)
Why don’t you ask your coach?
Coach is out of town and I was bored at work and wanted an answer.
Ah ha! 
I’ll stick with this response then…“train your weaknesses, race your strengths.”
I’m just finishing up my first tri season too. I’m stronger on the bike and run legs (for sure). I’m training twice a week at the most in the open water and pool. I’m trying to keep the swim training fun so I will stick with it. I never would have stayed on as a cyclist or runner if it hadn’t been fun. So train for your weakness but keep it enjoyable. Good luck!
Jen
I dread the swimming so I was hoping someone would advise to train your strengths. Oh well, more time in the pool for me.
Oh My God…what was I thinking? That’s what I meant to say…train your strengths. Just kidding
Really though…instead of dreading your swim do something fun with it. Be creative. Bring a buddy, play some water polo, do shorter sessions or try using fins (love mine). Keep an open mind and try to soften your feelings toward the time you need to invest on swimming.
Jen
Definitely train your weaknesses not your strengths. That’s where you can make the time up.
This is not always true for longer distances, say Ironman. I was a “top” 40% swimmer, top 20% biker, and top 2% runner. I focused the off-season on cycling and I am now a top 40% swimmer, top 5% rider, and top 1% runner (mainly due to improved bike). I gained about 30 minutes on the bike, had I worked on the swim I would have gained, at best, 5-10 minutes. Now, I would need to work on the swim (and keep focus on biking as well).
So, if you want to improve your times, you should focus on the discipline that will yield the most time gains which is not necessarily your weakest discipline.
Cheers,
Alex
But you’ve missed out the rest of my quote - where I say that more time is spent on the bike and then the run and then the swim - so you have to factor that into the equation too.
I’m sure someone has worked out a proper calulation.
Take me - I’m a lousy bak of pack swimmer, but am really happy to make the distance in the swim as this time last year I couldn’t do a length. If I worked real hard I could maybe knock half an hour off, but I would get better results working on the bike leg.