Help with Planning Weekly Sessions using Tri Bible Book

I agree. Using a pre-written plan - and altering it if you feel necessary - is much better for a first-timer than trying to write your own from scratch.

I can't get a coach because I'm on a budget and have to get swimming lessons already.

I'll take a look at the BT plans. Any recommendations for other plans? Seems like most of the online free ones I've found so far are just "do these intervals" for a certain number of weeks and you should magically be ready to go. I liked how the book focused on different areas, different periods and stressed testing every few weeks.

I had some success this year (my first full tri season) using Friel's plans in his "Your Best Triathlon" book.  The plans are detailed and easy to follow.

Good luck!

There are a few linked here: http://www.triathloncoach.ca/free_training_plans.htm and here http://home.trainingpeaks.com/affiliates/usat/usat_trainingplans.aspx 

As for ""do these intervals" for a certain number of weeks and you should magically be ready to go"...

You won't be MAGICALLY ready to go. You will be physically ready to go because you've been training. BT's sprint plans have worked for lots of people - and they even have a forums to discuss them: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/forum-view.asp?fid=137

It's not that you are "magically ready to go".  It's that the basics of training are fairly simple.  Be consistent.  Gradually build 'stress' (volume and/or intensity) into your training so that your body adapts and you increase your fitness base.  Most plans will do that in some way even if they don't describe exactly why they are doing it.

I used the free 20 week 2X balanced Olympic Plan 2 years ago to get started (I had very little training before this).  Last year I made some variations to target my weaknesses and based on what I learned worked and didnt work for me.  This year, I am taking it one step further.  As others have said, the plans on this site are a great way to get started and building your own requires knowledge and experience. 

For your first year (I am guessing that is the case), I would focus on consistency and getting use to training for all 3 sports.  Build volume gradually as you can fit it into your schedule.  If you only have 1 hour a day to train, start with doing each sport 2x a week (that is 6 workouts and gives you 1 day of rest).  You can also block 2 workouts together to increase the frequency (ex. 40 min bike, 20 min Run) - you can also spread them out during the day (ex. morning swim, evening run).  This will be necessary if you want to do more than 2 of any of the sports in a week.  Once you get a feel for what you can do and what your weaknesses are, you can modify as needed. 

Unless you have some other reason for doing weight training, I would drop that and focus on swim, bike, run.  Weight training will not make you faster or improve your ability to swim, bike or run, especially on a limited schedule. 

Most of the plans here, work in 4 week blocks.  Volume and/or intensity increases for the first 3 weeks and then the 4th week is a recovery week (usually around a 40% decrease in volume). 

This forum is a great place to learn and ask questions.

Welcome to the club though - its very addictive!

There are ways to 'optimize' training.  IMO, the TTB does not do a very good job of explaining how to do this and some of their definitions are poor (or plain wrong).  You might want to check out the info from Phil Skiba someone linked to above if you do want to understand some more of the details.  But, even if you do, I think the 'canned' plans (whether here or elsewhere) are a good place for most people to start.  Build and modify from there.