UPDATE: What is my Ideal Racing Weight?...Pro Triathlete Sara McLarty weighs in (no pun intended)

In my original post I asked the question "What is Racing Weight?" and was somewhat unable to provide a succinct definition. So I went out in search of a more concrete answer and asked Pro American Triathlete Sara McLarty for her guidance. 

Like me, Sara began her athletic career as a swimmer. Thus, I felt that she might have a better understanding of where I'm coming from as a former swimmer (seeing as how most swimmers, like myself, have a complete lack of nutritional guidance with an "eat whatever you want" mentality). 

Sara told me that "race weight is just a fancy term that triathletes use to differentiate between the off-season weight gain, and that goal/dream weight that they would love to be racing at."

As to the differences between swimming nutrition and triathlon nutrition, Sara noted that "Because this sport is more on dryland (versus swimming), weight tends to play a bigger role. In the water, it really didn't matter if you carried 5-10 extra lbs because they actually helped you float and move water. However, in the bike and run, extra lbs are just extra weight that you have to push forward with every pedal and ever step." 

Essentially, it seems that 'racing weight' is merely synonymous with being "in shape" and that as you train, your weight will fluctuate accordingly without too much thought needed.

"It still comes down to being healthy, having fun, and being smart," Sara emphasized, " A healthy race weight is one that your body can maintain without being drained or overly fatigued. It is a weight where your body functions normally and feels good."

I think some athletes focus so much on nutrition and weight that they forget "feeling good" is ultimately the most important thing. Food powers our bodies to do extraordinary things. If you put junk in, you get junk out. BUT, just because you put only good things in, doesn't mean that you will get only good things out.

So what do I think you should take away from this 'racing weight' discussion? We all ultimately train because we love the sport. And, eating is essentially as much a part of our sport, and our training, as is swimming, biking, and running. So, we need to enjoy eating as much as we enjoy doing everything else.

Eat the foods that you love but don't overdo it with the unhealthy stuff. And as for reaching your proper 'racing weight'...training hard will take care of much of the work so don't put too much thought into it. Just make sure you feel good when you train as that's all that really matters.