look at a bike trainer/rollers or a bike trailer for the kids. early AM or late PM workouts could also work when everyone else is asleep.

here's a similar thread:
http://messageboards.active.com/jive/thread.jspa?threadID=3231&tstart=135

I have an 8 year old and a 7 year old. I train at 5 in the morning and am home before they are awake. Also, I know you said the gym is far, but our gym has a room that will watch the kids while you work out. Our gym has a separate part for babies. I was watching my 6 week old nephew and they even watched him for me while I was working out.

I live in Chicago, so my winters are as cold as your summers are hot. I bought a bike trainer that I set up in my room and ride my bike. I like it better then a stationary bike because I am riding the bike that I will be riding in events.

The best advice I can give you is to just find the time to do it. Even if you have to do 15 minutes here, 20 minues there, etc. The one thing that I have noticed over the years is how much my kids talk about my working out and how they are now excited about training for their own kids triathlon for next summer. This is the best thing you could do, not only for you, but also for your kids.

If you are looking for some help on the weight loss as far as food goes. I've been going to Weight Watchers for years now and couldn't do it without. If you can try and find a buddy or a support system in that area and you will have more success. If you want you could always email me for encouragement. I love encouraging others.
My email is Mommymeepa@aol.com.

Take care and I know you will do this.
Melissa

Yes, there are tons of busy moms out here just like you. You can absolutely do this as long as you realize that your training has to take a non-traditional approach.You can get into shape without the gym.

Assuming that you are training for sprint distance races and that you are more concerned with getting in shape and finishing the race as opposed to your overall and split times, I would start with your treadmill and map out a training schedule on it that you can do around your kids schedules. Having a workable plan is a great idea but just starting to move will go the longest way in getting you back in touch with your goals. Get on that treadmill in the meantime while you are figuring out a plan of action even if it's just for a short walk. Before you know it, you'll be running.

I would start nice and slow and build gradually from there. Get yourself a good pair of running shoes. Get fitted for a pair now since your feet post pregnancy may have changed in size. Investing in some weights is an excellent idea because you will need to build muscle as well. You can realistically train for the bike on weekends as long as you are consistent or if it's a possibility to gain access to a stationary bike or indoor trainer, you can also supplement your road biking with that. This approach has worked well for me and I also do my road biking on weekends when my husband is home. Once you are in a routine and training consistently, not insanely, the weight will take care of itself. I would never suggest cutting back too drastically on calories because you need energy to train and take care of your children. Eating a sensible diet and good nutritious food is the only way to go. Clueing in your doctor on your plans may also be a good idea especially if you are breastfeeding.

I wish you the best. We moms fit training in whenever we can. We are amazingly good at it and make it work like no one else because we know we do not have the luxury to work out whenever we please.

I know you'll be out there racing again in no time.

You should check out that other thread that got posted. There was some helpful info on it. I posted the original request for help and now that I'm a little ways off from that I can definitely tell you that the biggest thing that helped me wasn't in any training device (though a gym membership and bike trainers do help)... It was an attitude change. I finally decided one day that I had to take care of myself and that I wanted to do triathlons and I would do whatever it takes. For example, I am not a morning person at all. If I could sleep every day until 9 am I would. But my kids don't allow that and my husband is so busy (especially during the summer)that I can't wait until the evenings. That leaves me with early mornings. I have to take what I can get so I get up at 4 a.m. for my long runs and leave as soon as it gets light to go biking. There are still some times that I can't get my workouts done due to my husbands schedule or sick kids or just plain being too tired but I have a strong will and I've worked hard with the time that I do have. In fact, the day of the last tri I did was only the second time I even got on my bike since last fall and I ended up 34th over-all and 11th in my age group. I also completed a 1/2 marathon in 1 hour and 54 minutes. So I'm not super fast or anything but with the amount of training I've done I feel like I'm doing well and most importantly I've lost most of my baby weight and I feel really strong and healthy.
It's best to plan ahead when you are working around your family but there are also times when I have to just spur-of-the-moment run out the door and grab a quick workout. I don't know if any of this is helpful but honestly the biggest difference to me has been in my head just having a strong enough desire that I'll do things I normally wouldn't. (like getting up at 4 a.m. and running for miles in the dark)
Good Luck to you. If I can do it anyone can!!

I'm a mom of five and trained and finished my first marathon two years ago. I found that having a flexible attitude and not beating myself up when I missed a workout were the most important aspects to keeping on track. If you set a goal like a race that can help as well. At first I worked out at the gym but after a while I got really bored. Now I always run outside. There's something so freeing about "escaping" the house and running in a wide open world anywhere I want to go. It means to get my workout in I have to be pretty creative sometimes either morning or afternoon depending on the weather. Don't feel like you are shortchanging your kids because you will be a much better mother when you take care of yourself. Good luck!!!