I've got a goal!

The best thing to do is start by figuring out your fall and winter program. Design one yourself that includes swimming biking and running. You should be able to do all the distances for each sport that you will do on the day of the race.

Come spring (unless you are lucky enough to live somewhere that allows you to exercise all winter outside) you are definitely going to want to get outside and run, bike and swim out there as often as you can - but with a pattern that allows you to track your progress.

Practice transitioning from bike to running. Practice your speedwork and pacing yourself in all three. If you can find a few open water swim races in your area in the spring, put on your wetsuit and use it as an official practice to find out your time on that distance.

Have the equipment and the locations to train through the winter, maybe include some weight training and then in the spring, hit the outdoors and practice training in conditions similar to the one you are doing on race day.

If you live in a warmer area, I would suggest perhaps doing an olympic length race beforehand, if you can find one. Triathlon season is winding down right now and wont really start up again til the spring.

Have you found a half ironman in April somewhere? How many triathlons have you done? Is this the first time you will do this distance?

awesome! Dont forget that the distances for Olympic more than double on the run and the bike for a Half Ironman!!!