Watts Avg For Sprint, Oly, HIM, IM

I try to use the Allen Coggan suggestions as to watts for different distance which translates into IF. I normally am a little lower than they suggested other than my IM.

Watts are so variable between triathletes looking at the other stats that are relative to your FTP are much easier to compare between different ability triathletes.

I'm not sure how significant it is.  Since speed is power to weight ratio, someone pushing more watts could be going slower than a lighter person pushing less...

That being said, zone 2 training puts me at about 200-230 watts.  Maybe a little more or a little less.  Zone 3 or 4 has me at about 230-330 watts...

Can you explain this more Kathy.  I weigh 162 therefore my wattage of 230 might make me go faster than someone at 200 pounds making the same power?

Not might, will.  Simple power to weight.

The reason my Integra Type R was faster than some muscle cars was that it made around 220 hp but only weighed 2500 lbs. in race trim.  Same principle for you putting out 230 watts compared to a clydesdale class person doing the same.

Makes sense to me.....so how to figure out what power I should be producing.....do back into the number via heart rate?

My original question was does avg power wattage decrease with increased length of race? 

comparing watts with another athlete is not really valuable nor usefull  as watts is a direct measure of your specific fitness level but it will also vary greatly among individuals based on age, gender, weight, etc. As for pacing a triathlon you have to think in terms of % of your functional threshold power (FTP is the power you can sustain going all out for 60 min). For a Sprint you can race around your FTP (96-105%) for an Oly 89-95% for a HIM 82-88% and IM 70-76%. where do you fall on the range for each distacen will depend on your fitness of course and your racing strenghts

If you still want to compare your power #s againts another athlete you have to do it terms of power to weight ratio. You do that by dividing your FTP and by your weight in Kilograms.

i.e. a 200 pound male with a 300 watts FTP has a power:weight ratio of 3.3 which means he can generate 3.3 watts for every Kilogram of weight. OTOH a 130 pounds female athlete with a FTP of 200 watts has a p:w ratio of 3.39. IOW even when the female athlete  generates less FTP power kilo per kilo she can produce more power than the male athlete.

^^ what Jorge said...

Basically you can put out more watts/power compared to your FTP for shorter race due to the length. The longer the length of the race the lower your watts are relative to your FTP.

 Allen/Coggan recommend the following:

Most sprints are 1.03-1.07 NP of FTP which turns out to be your IF (intensity frequency) which is your NP compared to FTP if you have cycling peaks
Olys .95-1.00
HIM .83-.87
IM.70-.76

You you need to practice and see what you can actually produce in races and in race like training. I normally fall below what they recommend other than IM bike leg.

What watts you or I put out don't really mean much other than comparing numbers as weight plays into how fast you go especially on hills where power/weight in kilos ratio is very important.

Have you read Training and Racing with a Power Meter by Allen and Coggan? If not get the book and read it.

 My FTP is 195 and I do different length intervals from 200-350 watts based on the time of season and build I'm in. Power Meters really make indoor trainer ride so much more challenging and beneficial I have found.