Hilg,
Good question I think that is something a lot of people question. Do I finish or just stop when the time is up. I think you can go a few different ways with that. Its a very tricky subject.
1. Most importantly (in my opinion) you need to be able to keep track of where you were when the time hit. That is your marker. We have time cut offs for a reason, to push intensity, to get high power output, and to increase work capacity. We as coaches and you as a client need to find a way to make sure in "all" workouts that you do finish them in the time cut off. If you are not then you are not getting the benefit of the workout. If that means scaling workouts even though you are used to not scaling then put your ego aside and do whats best for your body!
2. I think you have to pick and choose which workouts to finish and which workouts to say "yup that was enough". We as coaching should do a better job by saying "if you are so far along then finish, or this workout when the time hits you stop". There are some workouts in which it would be ok to finish and others not so much. This would be done on your own and people who are finished might be putting things back.
For example (finishing): The run/air squat/ pull up workout from friday. If you are doing your last set of pull ups then yes finish, but again like I said in my number 1, make sure you know where you were when the time cut-off hit.
For example (not finishing): Lets use the DB Thruster + Push Press and burpee workout from tuesday as our next example. Lets say it was for 5 rounds and a ten minute cut-off. This one I would say stop when the time hits.
To sum up #2, I feel if there is a workout in which it is supposed to be short (5-10min), fast, balls out, and with little rest you stop when the time hits. Because we don't want you to slow down and try to finish. If there is a longer workout (15-20min) and you are close to finishing go ahead and finish. What is close: In my opinion you can finish as long as you don't slow down or rest during your reps or your movements. Also something that can be done in less than a minute.
Then you say whats the point of a time cut-off if you are still allowing people to go past it. I feel most people want to get the workout done in the time cut-off. No one wants to DNF, so if we say you can have an additional minute after the time if you are close. You still DNF but you can still try to finish the workout for yourself.
3. Lastly most people who do the workout prescribed and who DNF are too stubborn to scale and should find a way to finish a workout. Trust me I have been put in that situation and should have scaled and didn't. I did not get what I was supposed to get out of that workout. I learned my lesson. When you start to understand your abilities it will be easier for you to scale accordingly. I know I can do everything prescribed but maybe not at the speed in which will allow me to finish with the top athletes. There is a goal and benefit in each workout, you got to understand your weaknesses and strengths to acheive that goal and benefit. Put your ego aside and you will make huge gains in your fitness if you acheive the goal and benefit of each workout.
Sum it all up people, ASK us for each workout, "Hey if I get here can I finish?". We will let you know. So people just like Hilg asked about this, keep asking questions. I love giving my opinion on things and hopefully it helps out. Keep working hard and keep writing stuff down. The time cut-off would be pointless if you never wrote anything down. Hope this helps and I will be writing my next topic on what to expect in your first month of crossfit.
