Would you...

Depends. Do you get your "fitness fix" from the race or from training? If it's the race that draws you to fitness then you might find yourself being drawn back to higher level work outs because it reminds you of how good you felt competing.

I'm dealing with this right now. I haven't signed up for a race (triathlon) yet this year because i thought I'd try and coast a bit and just keep a base foundation of fitness. Now that the weather has improved and I've had a couple of really good workouts and now I'm thinking of putting down the $ for up coming races.

Probably didn't answer your question but if I were to go that route I would completely change my workout schedule so that it didn't resemble trying for a competitive goal. 

Agree with Sharkie the thigh lover here.

After getting back into fitness training, I enjoy it more now than ever, but wish I had the same speed that I once had 25 years ago.  The ONLY reason I would stop training, or at least cut back the training immensely would be for my family.  If asked, I would have to, but hopefully rearrange the schedule a little, because I ENJOY THE TRAINING!!  There's soooooo many benefits!

unfortunately yes.  but like the above poster said, I probably wouldn't be doing 15-20 mile runs or 3000 meter swims, but I would still continue to work out regularly.  Why?  ... because it's good for us... and even though at times we hate it, it's the reason we feel great on most days.

We need an emoticon here, dear!

better?

Totally. I hate racing.  HATE it.  

This is the main idea. 

Last year I had to ditch Nationals (which I'd already registered and paid for) because of financial reasons. Then I got injured and lost another few races because of that.

I'm injured again, and have already lost three races I was registered for. With the lack of relief from conservative treatments pointing toward something more drastic, I may end up losing my ability to run permanently (and thus be able to do triathlon).

But I'm wired a little differently than you (which is okay). I shelved all my competitions for several years, and put on a happy face. But I was miserable. I need that outlet, and it is also the drive that gets me out the door. So even if I couldn't run, I would go back to bike racing. Which would probably end up being even MORE expensive...

I would, but not at the distances I'm at now.

I guess, though, if I couldn't race, and there were other fitness related activities that I enjoyed more than s,b,r, then I would do those.

Hmmm. Devil's advocate here. So what would actually happen if you were simply unavailable. Say a meteor hit the earth and you were unreachable. Someone would have to do whatever it is that requires doing. How much would it impact/cost you personally to go do your race anyway? In essence say "scr3w you all if yer gonna be baysterds".

I spent a long time not racing, and while the racing is fun, there's a ton of other stuff in my life that I love doing, and would have more time for if I wasn't trying to be all competitive. I do like the rush that comes from the race, but I can get that from other races than triathlon. Like several others mentioned, I'm trying to sort out what I'm really in this for.

Well, sorry to be harsh but...if this happens to you all the time yet you still keep signing up for races and expect to do them, then you ARE setting yourself up for failure. Why do something over and over and expect different results?
Stick to short races close to home or stop doing races until things change in your life to make racing longer/farther away possible. Wishing for your life to fit your hobbies isn't going to make it come true.
Your question was "would you continue to train if you could not race?" and my answer is still yes.