Weight training during triathlon training

you can do a search for this never ending debate.
But... the highlights are:

If you could be weight training or tri training and you want to improve in triathlon... you should be tri training.

Strength in the gym does not equal strength on the bike/run/swim

It is not proven lifting prevents injuries

There are some good reason's to strength train... improving in triathlon is not one of them.

(all this from a former bodybuilder)

I haven't lifted weights in a long time,  I just don't have the time for it.  More time I put into running and biking the faster I get at those (notice how I didn't say swimming!). I do core workouts couple times a week. I'll save weight training for the next phase when ever that comes around.

I hit the weights 1-2 times per week, but in reality I am doing high reps low weights, plenty of core type stuff.  You won't want to be carrying around a lot of extra muscle on any of the events really.

Thanks for the feedback...and as a point of clarification...my weight training consists of alot of functional trianing.  It is lower weight, higher reps with exercises that are meant to improve athletic performance (not bodybuildling type of stuff).  There is a lot of research that shows that strength and conditioning can improve athletic performance...it's just a matter of finding the time to do it.  I do agree that you need to choose the tri specific training over weight training if a choice has to be made...

While training for my HIMs and shorter distance tri's, I like to do weight training because I enjoy it and it feels good. But as far as improving your speed on tri sports, I don't really feel anything does that except doing the specific tri sports. I have seen sections in tri books--specifically the Triathlete's Training Bible--which do recommend certain exercises to strengthen the muscles you use in swimming, biking and running. But I'm not sure if that's really the best way to spend your time training. I'd rather be in the pool than doing triceps dips, or on the bike instead of doing squats. And now, training for a much longer distance, I find I don't have any time to be in the weight room anyway.

However, from *personal* experience (so, not to flat out disagree with previous poster re: injuries, please consider this an n = 1 example), I use weight training to strengthen muscles that are somewhat neglected in my tri training--specifically to avoid injury. I had a nasty case of ITB earlier this year, and discovered I had very weak hips, which may have contributed to the problem. So now I do exercises to strengthen those muscles (in addition to stretching and rolling) and my ITB is totally behaving. (Take with lb of salt, I'm not sure it would work for everyone, but in my case, it definitely helped!).

Other than that, the one area I have found strength training has been worth it for specific tri sport benefits is in my abs. Having a stronger core totally helps in keeping better running form and also feeling more comfortable and stronger in aero on the bike.

I still lift 2-3 days a week depending, but I leave the legs alone.  I've read it's couter-productive to strength train and endurance train the same muscle group.  Its a bit of self-serving research on my part, normally I can't move after a good squat and lunge day.  Don't miss those workouts at all during the season.

Echo.  FWIW, I do it because I like it, not because I think it helps me be a faster triathlete.  If time is an issue and sacrifices need to be made, then you need to prioritize just like anything else in life.....

I agree completely!
The only thing I would add is that for most AGers it should come down to a matter of time.  If you have time to do it in addition to your SBR training, then great, do it, because it is unlikely to hurt your race performance.  If you are having trouble finding enough time to get your planned SBR sessions in each week, then you probably shouldn't even consider doing weight training.

I weight train to maintain what strength I've got.. that's it. Plus while dieting down it helps to keep most of the weight loss to be fat loss.. but once I stop my diet and the the clocks change, I'll be having a hard time to find the gym time.

I have done it both ways but I typically start weight training about 15 weeks out from a key event. Once you get over 40 you start to lose muscle and gain fat much easier as the metabolism slows. I have found my greatest benefit is from weights which strengthen my back muscles for swimming and leg presses which help my biking, especially hill segments. Plus, I like the overall conditioning it gives me. However, once I start to get closer to main races I will miss a weight workout over anything else if need be.

I have done it both ways but I typically start weight training about 15 weeks out from a key event. Once you get over 40 you start to lose muscle and gain fat much easier as the metabolism slows. I have found my greatest benefit is from weights which strengthen my back muscles for swimming and leg presses which help my biking, especially hill segments. Plus, I like the overall conditioning it gives me. However, once I start to get closer to main races I will miss a weight workout over anything else if need be.

I do strength training 4 times a week. It works out great because every exercise, weather doing bicep curls or leg work, hits the core, which is great. I have to get this training in otherwise my back and hip muscles get injured.