If my FTP is 200 and I’m racing a 1.5 hour MTB race, ideally should I strive to have my normalized power be above, below or right at my FTP?
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Assuming everything is set up correctly and the normalisation is good then you will not be able to ride for 1.5hrs with a NP above your threshold.
So aim just below 
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TSS gets the short end too. 400w and 0w average to a nice easy 200w right? RiGhT? 
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We always say NP for show AP for dough. As was said by the other person MTB and power averages either NP or AP can often be distorted. Try playing with different screen layouts on bike computer in terms of average. Have a look at this link for some ideas Garmin Screen Setup for Mountain Bike Training with Power - LW Coaching
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Yeah I wouldn’t focus too much on power numbers for MTB races, unless there are long climbs; the efforts are so spiky it’s just a totally different ballgame. Also highlights how different the muscular and metabolic demands of MTB are to road!
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Just start the garmin and put it in the pocket and hammer it out for 1.5hrs? Or should I monitor HR?
IME there is no utility to monitoring power data during an MTB race. I also find it near impossible to actually focus on power data without crashing. I do often have HR data visible in a large and easy to read field, and find it somewhat useful in gauging effort. But yeah, in general just start the Garmin and use it as a recording device, not an in-race feedback device.
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Mostly agree for short XCO stuff, but I find pacing with power helpful in marathon events. Provides a nice sanity check early and a good carrot late.
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Definitely not useless if you adjust your FTP down by the right amount… I still find it really helpful for anything steady state.
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Race to feel, not to power
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Imagine if there was a tool to measure all the metabolic work you have to do in mountain biking that a crank-based power meter can’t: The body tension needed to wheelie up into a rock, and to pop your real wheel up after. The work of suspending your weight over your bike in a partial split-leg squat on a rowdy descent. Or the upper body work while jackhammering through a rock garden. How about getting bunched up on a steep pitch early in the race and you are forced to run up the hill? That’s all ignored by a power meter so I don’t feel too bad that I don’t have one on my mountain bike.
But if there was a device that could integrate and measure all that metabolic work into one number that would be…my heart rate monitor. I think it’s pretty helpful. It seems to sum up the situation pretty well whether I’m pedaling hard or not.
When I really want to do power -based intervals on my mountain bike I put it on my turbo trainer.
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How do you incorporate what your HR monitor is telling you into your overall training plan?
I’ve messed around with using HRTSS for MTB rides even though I have power meters on my MTBs, but it’s really not clear to me for example if you do a tempo ride on the road and a MTB ride with your HR in the tempo range if the training stimulus is equivalent. Nowadays I don’t really sweat it, and I’ll swap going hard on a 30 minute trail segment with 30 min intervals on the road, because I think it’s important to train at race pace at least sometimes. I’ll use the same segments for my trail intervals and can compare power numbers to see how I’m doing.
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I typically keep interval workouts on the trainer or more rarely the drop bar bike. I use the HR on the MTB to approximate the TSS that TR is prescribing for the day or week. Those are typically the endurance rides. It’s not very exact, but then I don’t have a lot of control over my training schedule either.
I think practicing going hard while on trail is a great idea, even if the training stimulus isn’t exact. You have to be able to handle your bike with “race brain”.