I loved Dawn's tone and writing style, and this is a very inspirational book and I recommend it to all women interested in running a marathon get it, but with one reservation - I have issues iwth the training schedule included in her book.
I'm truly concerned that she advises that a complete novice who doesn't even own running shoes could attempt a run a marathon with only four month's training. This is a recipe for potentially serious injury. And she provides an example of this herself -- she develops major knee pain, including at the beginning of her marathon before she even began running. Her actual marathon experience is one of someone who trained too quickly; at mile 13, she began to experience severe pain and had real trouble finishing among the "walking dead" at the back of the pack.
I trained to run a marathon in 2002 and I had four months to train, but I was jogging regularly and had been a long distance cyclist for several years. But I injured my back and tendons in my legs on my schedule. A doctor told me that this because my training was too consolidated.
I highly recommend this book if you're considering running a marathon, but if you are indeed a novice do three things before attempting to train:
1) Follow her advice to have a thorough medical checkup, although I will add that it's ultra helpful to find a doctor who is familiar with sports medicine
2) get a real-life coach/experienced marathoner to talk to before you beginn and ideally to supervise your training; you can talk to people at running speciality stores to find a good person and
3) check out a number of other marathon training schedules, such as Hal Higdon's novice schedule (which is a 7 1/2 month program) and another by coolrunning.com called "from couch potato to 5k) as well; it's another potential training program for beginners. (You can find both through Google.) Give yourself lots of time to train and ramp up slowly.
I just ran a marathon, and I was supervised by a university track coach. He designed a program that required me running regularly for six months before the half marathon, and an additional four months for a marathon, to which I added another month. Yes, 11 months. But I had a GREAT marathon experience - injury free, pain free and with a quick recovery.
But I have to say that her entertaining, straightforward advice about sports bras, great shoes, the importance of journaling and the miracle of Bodyglide makes this a very good book for beginners. Just research other schedules that work for you before you hit the pavement.