[gchappel]

There are a bunch of century training schedules and ideas out there- Bicycling magazine posts one every year or two. I have taken several people on their first century- although I am not a trainer nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express. My fastest century was 5:15.
As above, make sure your bike fits and is capable of doing the ride. Know how to fix a flat. Find a local group to ride with, riding in a group is a different skill set. Keeps you, and others, safe.
Training is basically ride a lot.
A 10 week plan that works-
ride 5 days a week. Two days just ride easy for a couple of hours (not too easy, but so you can talk.) Two days are fast, including short sprints as you get into it. One long ride a week. Start at 20miles, and add 10 miles to the long ride each week. Goal is to comfortably do 80 miles 2 weekends before your real ride. Ride for the next 2 weeks, but no long ride.
This will get you a comfortable 7-8hr century- and you will feel fine after the ride.
Good luck
gary