hello everyone -

thanks for your replies. A bit of my background: 39 years old;
solid running base (I think); run lots of local races (MAGP); 5K time
around 25 minutes; last 10K I did (Cooper's Rock 05) was 55 minutes
and some change; 1/2 marathon (June 05) was 2:08; currently in week
10 of Hal Higdon's Intermediate I marathon training guide.

I'm shooting for 10min/mile pace at the marathon. My goal is to
finish in a respectable manner (not coming in on a stretcher,
crossing the finish line one my own 2 feet in an upright position).
That pace seems really slow to me, but I don't want to run out of
gas. Am I being a wimp? Plan on eating bagel, etc. as Candy advised
at least 2 hours prior to race. Not sure how many Gu's to take on
the course with me...I'm thinking 4 - that would be one per hour. I
drink loads of water all day, so I think I have the hydration thing
down. Here's a wierd question (don't laugh): should I be drinking
enough that I'd have to make a porta-potty stop during the marathon?
Walk through the water stops? Has anyone ever run with a pace
group? I'm thinking it might be good to attach myself to one of
those.

enough rambling - thanks!
Sue