Post 69.1: help me plan my racing life

Hello BT!  Question for coaches and anyone else interested...

For the last six months or so I've been around here, training for my first 70.3- HIM New Orleans.   Due to extremely high winds, the swim portion was cancelled.  I was furious of course as I had worked very hard on the swim and it was my first "triathlon".  I finished in 5:06, with 1:53 on the run and 3:10 on the bike.  Disappointing outcome but happy to finish.  I'm a weak cyclist and that was what was tested due to the winds. Anyways, since that's done, and there's nothing I can do about it, I would like some help planning my race schedule.

HIM Nola was my "A-Race", and now I have another "A-Race", which is Berlin Marathon in September.   I am irritated that I still haven't done a triathlon.  I have convinced myself *sigh* that doing this 70.3 and saying I did it is more about the 5 months of training than race day.  I still have not done a triathlon.  I am going to be doing 5150 New Orleans in like 3 weeks or so.  Wasn't really planning on this but really enjoyed tri race day and want to do a real tri even if olympic.

My real dilemma lies here: I consider myself a stronger runner than anything and want to kick the crap out of Berlin, without compromising being a triathlete first.  I ran a 1:40 half 2 months ago and am much more fit since then.  I have a great running coach that took me from never having run like 7 months ago to a pretty respectable half marathon time.  I now really enjoy running too, but I want to be a triathlete more than a runner, for several reasons.  I am thinking about next week getting on a 20 week program to try and BQ in Berlin.  He thinks it's possible for me given some LT testing and a few other shorter races.  This is definitely a huge goal- would love to crack 3 hours.  I love running. I'm 21 years old and my body can take a bit of abuse

I don't want to lose the swim and bike work I have done.  I don't think I'm a strong cyclist but think that I am way better than the time I posted in this HIM.  I was going to aim to get out of the water in about 37 or 38 minutes.  I know I am not a great triathlete and not trying to KQ or anything but would really like to improve and shoot for a full IM in 2012 (IM Switzerland or CDA), in addition to a HIM or two.  

Given my goal of full IM, how much would it hurt to spend 5 months just training for running?  Would it possibly be good to come back having run a full marathon and approach IM as a very strong runner and probably a bit thinner?  I could train in the winter after september for biking and swimming more heavily. 

Anyways, what is my best approach here?  Straight train for tri through berlin? Strict run training to try and break 3h? Can I do 5days/wk run and build in a swim and bike for maintenance, or will that just be junk?  

Would love to hear from anyone and everyone!