Reps or Time?

This is just an attempt to put some of my thoughts down for later review. Bear with me.

In girevoy sport (GS), much of the training seems to be focused on time. By and large, it is a sport that wraps itself around the focus of that ticking of the clock. Progress is measured by getting a certain number of reps within the constraints of the 10 minute time limit.

After spending the last 2 years progressing and stalling....and progressing some more in this sport, I have a few thoughts on this focus on time.

Does it really matter?

Yes, I understand that to make rank a lifter HAS to hit their reps within 10 minutes. That being said, does focusing on time during the actual training matter as much as focusing on the number of reps?

Would a lifter be better off focusing on just getting under the bells and trying to get more reps than the last session? In many ways, I think that looking at it from this perspective could benefit a lifter since the end result and ultimate variable is reps...not time.

By focusing on getting more reps each week, the lifter will automatically get increase their speed as they get more proficient at that weight. Setting the timer and tossing it aside, begin lifting and see how many reps you can get before you have to set it down. There is your limit. In future training sessions, maybe try training at 70%-85% of that max rep limit over the course of a week or two with maybe 1-2 sessions @ 90% and test again at the end of this microcycle. The result will undoubtedly be a higher max rep count.

I am not saying that the timer should be forgotten, but maybe it should take a back seat during the off season. Once the specific number of reps are hit, start focusing on whittling the time down. In all honesty though, I think that it is in the nature of the sport that if a lifter can hit 60+ (LC) reps he/she will be doing so in 10 minutes or less. The fact is that doing so at any slower of a pace than 6-7 rpm would be really hard. In a sense, by just focusing on the reps one probably see the session time auto-regulate itself.

Just some thoughts for future reflection.