At a conference for the next 5 days - thoughts on not losing fitness

Just do pushups at night for 20-30 minutes for the "lack of swimming"

For me, I would just squeeze in 2 or 3 runs over the 5 days depending on the plan for the conferance. 

Your "A" race will be fine and body will probably like a little break, mini-taper going into next week fresh.

I used to be constantly traveling for work, either to other research facilities or to conferences. Running is about the only thing you can count on being able to do. The  other thing I did was some basic core training and pushups every morning. I've done the treadmill thing at 1am when dealing with time zones and squeezing in an hour.

Almost every conference has a notice board. See if you can't find someone else to run with - I found this is also a great way to meet people. It usually evolves into a beer and meeting other colleagues. I'm assuming you're in grad school - you'll find out 99% of positions result from personal contacts.

I didn't think of that! I will definitely throw in about 20-30min of pushups/core work at night.

I will check for a notice board. I agree, contacts are imperative in academia. I am in the first year of my PhD, keeping all options open for the future.

Is this your first conference?  Don't underestimate the amount of walking and standing around you're going to be doing.  I'm always way too exhausted after a full day at the conference and dinner out after to do anything but sleep when I get back to my hotel.  Plus, you want to make sure you're well rested - no falling asleep during the talks!!

Uh, you have an A race in less than two weeks and you aren't in taper mode already?  Why would you pack the week before a race with swimming and cycling?  That isn't what you are supposed to do.

Bring your running shoes along to get some runs in and consider it all part of the taper.  It's only 5 days.

Does Hotel have a stationary bike?  Usually located on a small workout room.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Although I am in taper mode, I must still do some training. I can't do zero swim and bike sessions between now and race day. Hence, I will do them when I return. If I do find a stationary bike, I might try to hit that up on one of the mornings at the conference. 

I have been to a few conferences, but most of them I was not in "race season" and really just didn't care too much if I hit specific workouts.

Thanks again everyone.

I just came back from an 8 day business trip this past weekend.  It was an epic failure training and diet wise.

My excuse early on for skipping workouts was adjusting to the 6 hour time difference...which was a valid excuse...but I should have sucked it up and did at least a little training anyway just to stay in the routine.

Instead, I skipped my planned training (just running on the treadmill in the hotel fitness center) the first few days, and when my body was finally adjusted, I had already got into a habbit of not working out and did no training the enitre 8 days.  Had I just gone for 30-45 minutes the first few days, I'm sure it would have been much easier later in the trip.  Same with my diet.  Because all my meals were paid for, I treated myself to some junk food for my first meal.  Thinking I would eat better the rest of the trip.  That didn't work out.

So my lesson learned was to get into good habbits of eating and training from the start.  Being that I was removed from my normal environment at home...I had no "set ways" to fall back on.  When I'm at home...everything is routine...I don't really need to think about what I'm going to do.  When was traveling...I seemed to have all kinds of options new to me...and I picked the wrong ones early on...and they stuck the whole trip.  Of course once I got home...it was back to business as usual.

Relax - you won't forget how to bike or swim over the course of a few days. Your body might even appreciate the break.

Get some running in, beware of ramping up the mileage too high, and have a good time. If your A race is coming up, it'll be a good distraction from thinking about your race. A business trip shortly before a big race can be a great way to find distraction.

Right, but your original post made it sound like you were going to cram all your missed swim and bike into the week after you got back.  Which would be counter productive.

Do a swim and bike the day before you leave then pick up with your regularly scheduled swim and bike taper workouts when you get back.  Don't try to make up for lost time.

tri808, i am so happy that i read your post. i know that sounds crazy but you seem like you are always on the ball and totally dedicated, so to know that you are human makes me feel so much better (and i mean that as a complete compliment!)

just had a week of vacation, followed by a week home, followed by a week away for business and my training plan definitely suffered. i used the stationary bike and the treadmill at the hotel gym, but my workout was nothing like it should have been according to the plan i'm doing. needless to say i've been beating myself up for it. home now though and ready to get back on the wagon for my sprint in september and international in november. 

so thank you BTers for giving me hope that i'm not a total failure at this!

"The conference thing" and international business travel are facts of life for me.  Thankfully I work with a coach who does a great job of structuring things for me and I'm fortunate in that I generally get to choose where I stay and so can pick a hotel with a gym.

Some good advice above.  Here are a few more general observations:

I generally switch to a run focus (outside or treadmill depending on location, weather etc.).

Great opportunity for core work.  I have a TRX with door attachment that is easy to carry in my luggage.

Drink lots of water!   Conference halls are generally miserable and jet lag is worse!

At the evening receptions etc. I don't begrudge myself a beer or two, but I try to make sure that I go for water instead at at least every other opportunity.

Just be sensible on the food.  Often there are some pretty reasonable options available at conferences if you're selective when they roll out the buffet@

At some conferences mornings can be your friend.  There are certainly some that start early, but also many where things don't kick off until long after I would usually be at work.  Can often get in a nice long run to start the day.

Nothing wrong with some cardio on stationary bikes in hotel gyms (and recently I have stayed at some hotels that actually have pretty decent spin bikes).

In my opinion, unless a hotel has a 25 yard/M pool (unusual)  it's not worth trying to force-in swim workouts.

Never use the escalators at airports/conference centers!   :-)

Don't sweat it, you'll be fine!