Committed

Maybe I should be committed :) , but I've decided that I'm going to do the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon next January. I figure I've got plenty of time to train, and I did finish the half-marathon six years ago (even though I was one of the slowest finishers).

I'm reading the Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer, and I think I can do the training schedule that they have. At least I will be able to when I need to start it in September. I'm up to 2-3 miles now a day now. Still very slow, but getting faster.

I am wondering about carbs, though, since that book says you should have plenty of carbs for fuel. I can barely choke down a cracker, so I'm not sure how that's going to work. Any advice?

 Milk & yogurt have carbs.  How do you do with fruit?

I do OK with bananas (half a banana at a time), but I had a bad experience with oranges a couple of weeks ago. Too stringy, I think. I haven't tried other fruit yet, but I'm OK with milk and yogurt.

definitely do-able, congrats on committing to a big goal!  keep working on your base now (and increasing it over the spring and summer), you want to have a very solid base before your "official" training begins in the fall.  what are your goals?  (running/walking/pace/overall time etc), your goals will help define your training and therefore your nutritional needs.

My main goal is finishing. :)  But I'd like to run most if not all of it, and I'd like to finish in less than 6 hours. I just don't want to run out of steam before the end, and I want to increase my speed so I can meet that goal.

I'm doing 18 minute miles right now (shuffling like an old lady!), and I have to get faster if I want to finish before they shut down the race. I'm hoping I'll be able to move faster as I get lighter and more fit.

you've got plenty of time to work up to more sufficient carbs as time goes by.  Those crackers will be ok in a few months when you really start packing on the miles, and you will graduate to toast, cereal, etc.

Fruits are great, yogurt, milk, oatmeal, etc.  Eventually you will probably also need to experiment with energy gels like Gu, sportsbeans or the like. 

Congrats on setting a big goal!  I'm planning my first full marathon for this coming October!  GO US!