Vacations

I've posed this question before and basically the responses I get are either (a) follow your plan rigidly, no exceptions, or your wont get the physio benefits over the long run or (b) we are all busy do your best and you'll be fine. 

Personally, and I am no authority as this is my first year,  but I beleive that so long as you do something, hit your key work outs (even if modified) and are consistent you'll be fine.  Have a great vaca.

I will sometimes adjust the schedule and do the biking and swimming ahead of time and run over vacation.  Sometimes I just drop the workouts.  It depends on how close you are to the race and how long you're going to be gone.

In the long run, I think you'll be ok with these short vacations if you don't do much.  It's not that long. 

I just got back from a 5 day vacation and had every intention of getting significant workouts in...yeah, right.

I did get to pull the kids behind my bike in a "chariot", and that in itself was a workout...

I say, take the time off, let your body rest, enjoy your vacation and family...

You can pick it up when you get back... 

But, that's just me putting family first... 

My wife and I take at least 2 1 week long vacations each year.  I normally plan on a light training week, similar to the last week of a taper.  If we're at a resort or on a cruise ship, I'll hit the treadmill, lifecycles, free weights, etc. in the fitness center, or possibly do a spin class or two.  If at all possible, I do this early in the morning before my wife gets going, then I meet her at breakfast.  I don't do this everyday -- only about 4 times on a 7 day trip.

For me, the lighter training keeps me from losing any fitness, but it doesn't infringe so much on family time that my wife gets unhappy.  Like one of the other posters said, my body seems to respond well to the break, and I find I return home ready to train hard again.

Vacation is my favorite time to train.  I think it's because I can devote time to it, and not be thinking about all the things that I should be doing instead.  It's vacation -- there's nothing else I should be doing!  (I don't take vacations where you're occupied site-seeing or whatnot all day.  My job is high-travel, high-stress.  Vacation time is always agenda-free.)

But yes, you do have to find a time to do it that doesn't annoy the family.  I just get up very early, then make up the sleep by taking a nap later in the day.  Funny thing -- people in my family (and especially my wife's family) will give me grief for going on a long run in the afternoon, but they have no problem with me taking a long nap.  If it works for them, it works for me...