Marathon Number Three for me will be the Canadian International Marathon in Toronto on 19 October 2003. I've decided that the Casino Niagara Marathon will be next year unless I somehow get a real chance to run in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington (which is the same weekend). 

I do have a time goal in mind. I had thought to not share it in advance, but I don't think it will hurt anything or anyone. It is reasonable, I think, based on my previous performance and my marginal adherence to the training program I'd worked out for it.

I'm going to try for 4:30. Barring anything unforeseen - I should be able to handle that but I'll be happy with anything less than the 4:45:19 I achieved in Ottawa in the spring - which works out to a pace of 6:24 per kilometre and I know that I can maintain 6:04 over a half marathon and not be much worse for the wear, so this should be doable.

My strategy is going to be to work on a 6:20 kilometre during the first 32.2 km of the race.  This should put me 10 km from the finish in a little less than 3 hours 24 minutes, leaving me an hour six for the last 10k, about ten minutes longer than would be my regular pace for that distance which I hope will be more than enough to take care of the extra fatigue.

Wish me luck and endurance!