1st HIM age 40

I'd also suggest some sort of structured training plan.  Sounds like you're just kind of winging it and while that will get you across the finish line, a structured plan will make it an overall better experience.

The sprint, oly, bike, and running races are great fun and great for fitness but too much racing also means less structured training on weekends towards the 70.3/HIM goal.  A sprint or oly race will tell you almost nothing when it comes to your prep for a HIM.  Anyone can fake their way through a sprint or oly race.  You pretty much can't do that at the 70.3 distance (and certainly can't do it at the IM distance).  Having fun is the most important thing so if racing tons is your fun then have at it but just know there are consequences to doing that.

You mentioned brick training.  What do you consider brick training and why?  Most newcomers to tri hear about bricks and blindly go down the wrong path with them.  They think there's some magical fitness earned from running tired, slow, and crappy after a hard bike ride.  NOT HOW IT WORKS.  Heck, many experienced folks do as well.

Here's what a "brick" can be good for:

• Super time crunched.  It's either do bike/run workouts at the same time or not do them at all.
• Race rehearsals.  This is where you'd ride for three hours at race pace and raceday nutrition.  Then do a hour run after.  This is done to test your bike pacing and nutrition, and only done two or three times in the weeks/months leading up to your race.  Not what I'd consider a brick but I guess it fits the description.
• What I consider a brick.  A bike ride followed by a very short run (like 15 minutes).

Here's what's not optimal.  Running long (or long-ish) after riding.  All your doing is running tired, running slow, running sloppy. etc.  Running on fresh legs is ALWAYS a better option than running with tired legs.  There is no magical fitness obtained from running long after biking.  Despite popular misconceptions.