Bike marathon training

Question
I have a Trek hybrid bike and I haven't been riding it regularly so I'm not used to riding. This October, I would like to participate in the Long Beach bike marathon. Starting from square one, how can I train for this? I don't need to win; I just want to finish before they take away the roadblocks. Suggestions?

Answer
Sharon,
This is very doable.  I looked up the bike marathon and it really is a bike marathon (26.2 miles).  That distance is a very reasonable distance, even for a beginner, and you have six weeks to work up to it.  Obviously, the first thing to be concerned about is whether you think you are ready (and your doctor thinks you are ready) to improve your fitness.  Assuming both in the affirmative, you need to find time to work out regularly.  This doesn't mean every day necessarily, but if you have done nothing at all and feel you have no fitness, you need to think about trying to get out and ride three times a week for 20-30 minutes at first, and then more each week.  Don't necessarily think about the distance, think about the time on the bike pedaling.
The first week start with 30 minutes, just to finish.  Try to do it all three  of your workout days with one day of recovery in-between each.
The second week, try to work a little harder for 35 minutes each time and develop some comfort on the bike (the seat is not comfortable in the beginning, but you will get used to it, I promise).
The third week, you have got 35 minutes down, so move up to 45 minutes the first day, 50 the second and 55 the third.  If that is too much, keep it at 40 for all three days.  Do not go hard, just keep it moving.
The fourth week you should be more than ready to ride for an hour.  Be sure to have water or an electrolyte drink along and get used to drinking while you work out.  Try for 1 hour on the first day and if you feel good, go to 1:15 the second and third days.  
The fifth week, 1:15 is old hat.  Go for the gusto and do a 1:30.  Again, distance doesn't matter, just keep it moving.  Try to master 1:30 somehow, some way.  It may be new territory for you in terms of workout, but try to keep going without stopping.
The sixth week, you need to take it up to 1:45.  No matter if it takes all three sessions, get to 1:45 of continuous biking by the end of the week.
When you can ride 1:45 you know you are ready, because 1:45 is an average of 15 miles per hour.  Everyone I have met can can roll along at between 13 miles per hour (2 hours of riding) and 15 miles per hour (1:45 hours of riding), no matter how slow they think they are.  
On the day of the race, and during training, you should make sure you are drinking lots of fluids.  This means water or a fairly dilute electrolyte drink (think Gatorade cut 50/50 with water).  Feel free to stop at the aid stations to stretch, refuel and enjoy.
With some preparatory effort, as I have detailed, you should finish well before they take down the roadblocks.

Let me know if you have any questions,

Graeme