Race Comparison: Pacing

I was reading an article on how to pace an Ironman race and it got me thinking about my own pacing statistics.  So I went on TrainingPeaks and compiled the information based on race type/distance.  I only picked from 2012 races:

Race Name	Type of Race	Avg. Heart Rate	Avg. Power	Power Zones	Heart Rate Zones
Fort Custer Stampede	Mountain Bike XC	155	NA	NA	51% Zone 4
Grand Rapids Triathlon	Olympic	151	227	24% Zone 4 14% Zone 5 21% Zone 6	50% Zone 3 50% Zone 4
Tri Del Sol Triathlon	Sprint	149	243	20% Zone 3 27% Zone 4 20% Zone 5 & 6	90% Zone 4
Reeds Lake Triathlon	Sprint	153	173	19% Zone 3 36% Zone 6	44% Zone 3 56% Zone 4
Ironman Steelhead	Half-Ironman	131	180	20% Zone 1 26% Zone 2 & 3 18% Zone 4	74% Zone 2

Although not all my races are listed, there are still a few take-a-ways from this table.

 

1. Mountain bike races are more anaerobic.  This I already knew.  However, this does mean there is a conflict in my training.  If I want to compete at mountain bike races, I will need to more high intensity training. 
   
2. The GR Triathlon pacing is spot on perfect pacing for that distant race.  There is really nothing I would change about that.
   
3. Tri Del Sol pacing is also spot-on for sprint level distance.   I could push more power, however I’m already 90% of my time in HR zone 4.  I would need to up my anaerobic capacity to get a higher power reading.
   
4. Reeds Lake Triathlon pacing is rather unique.  I have a high HR and spent close to half my time in power zone 6.  Yet my average power is low.  I’m thinking this is because I was either going up hill or down hill.  Minimal flat terrain.  Thus the reason you see very little power zone 4-5. 
   
5. Ironman pacing is probable a little slow, which I knew.  However at the time, I was worried about the 13.1 mile run.  The HR Zones should be split between zone 2 and 3.  The power zone I’m okay with.  The course was flat, thus the higher power average than Reeds Lake.