SACO — Bob and Tracy Keegan are a little more active than the average parents.

Like most, the Saco residents both have full-time careers while tending to the needs of their young family. But when the Keegans find some leisure time they hit the road, or the water, depending on their training schedule.

The Keegans are avid triathletes who enjoy testing their athletic abilities against the disciplines of swimming, biking and running. Finding enough time to train for each respective leg of a triathlon can sometimes be challenging, but they have managed to find a balance in their daily schedules.

“Bob’s not a morning person, and I am, so that makes things a lot easier,” said Tracy Keegan, a Unum employee. “I get up at 5 o’clock every morning to get my workout done before anybody is even up.

“There’s no argument on who’s going to work out at that time of the day,” added Bob Keegan, a property manager who hopes to one day compete in an Iron Man event. “Most of the time, I work out during the day because my job is a little more flexible in that sense.”

The main focus of the Keegans’ recent preparation is the 2012 Aquaphor New York City Triathlon being held July 8. More than 3,000 athletes from 44 states and 10 countries are scheduled to compete in the event, which includes a .92-mile swim in the Hudson River, a 25-mile bike ride on the Henry Hudson Parkway and a 10K run in Central Park.

The upcoming completion will be the second Olympic-distance triathlon for the Keegans. Most of their previous experience has been in sprint events, which consist of a third of a mile swim, 14-mile bike and three-mile run.

The Keegans, who took part in the Pirate Triathlon June 10 in Casco, were active runners for 20 years before turning their attention toward a new endeavor. While they enjoyed running, they both agreed that the constant pounding was taking a toll on their bodies and decided to reduce that aspect of their training routine. Four years ago, they shifted their efforts toward becoming triathletes, a natural progression, they said.

This year, they took their training to the next level by hiring Erika DeGeorge, a local Level 1 USAT Certified Triathlon coach, to oversee their individual workouts.

“With a coach, instead of just going out and going for a run like we did before, we are now going out and training with a purpose,” Tracy Keegan said. “It’s speed work or endurance. That’s saved us some time, too, because we’re now making the most efficient use of our time.”

The Keegans are also members of two local triathlon clubs, the Orthopedic Associates Tri Team and the Kennebunk Beach Triathlon Club. Both entities offer ample opportunities to join other members in training routines.

Naturally the Keegans’ interest in distance athletics has rubbed off on their children. Abby, 9, Ellie, 8, and Macey, 21 months, have all taken part in recent events ”“ in one form or another.

“It’s important for us to be healthy,” Tracy Keegan said. “We try to set a good example, and the two older girls have actually done two indoor triathlons. They’ve done road races, and we just did the Mother’s Day 5K, with Macey in the stroller.”

— Contact Mark Jeanneret at 282-1535, Ext. 323.