I accomplished goals 1 and 2, but fell short of #3: I finished in 4:22 [4:21:59 to be precise:)], and did manage to break the 10:00min barrier. My first marathon [Chicago '97] was a very painful experience [4:35], and it took me nearly two months to recover from it-- nagging shin splints and a wide-range of injuries caught-up with me on marathon day. Was keen that such an experience did not recur, and hence was over-cautious this time around. Just ran three times a week, and did only one 20-miler. Was undergoing treatment with a physical therapist for shin problems and also an adductor strain.
I trained with the CARA training group for the marathon [10:00 pace group], with long runs on Saturday in Irving Park. Ran with Gabrielle (Gaby) and Lee during the long runs--we all ran at or around the same pace and Gaby's penchant for talking kept the miles ticking:) We had decided to meet at the CARA tent at 7am on race day morning. Unfortunately, we missed each other at the CARA tent on race day. Gaby did not find the tent, whereas Lee and I did not cross paths in the tent--it was rather disappointing not to have met them for we had run the long runs together and exchanged many a e-mails leading upto the marathon.
I got a ride to the starting point (Buckingham fountain) from Jennifer (rather her parents),
a member of the Evanston running club. We picked-up Jim from dowtown Evanston; it was the
first marathon for both of them. Cathy [from ERC] too started with us, but she lost us
in the very first mile itself. We started slow and easy, and kept at it for the most part.
We lost Jennifer at the mile 3/4 water stop, and tried invain to spot her amidst the sea
of runners. Jim and I started running on the sidewalk for a while (elevated), fancying
our chances to see her. Finally, at or around the 9mile mark, we saw her. From thereon, we
managed to stay together. We got through the halfway point in about 2:16. All of us were doing
great, although Jennifer at times, seemed to indicate otherwise:) Made it to the
20mi mark, and I was still feeling good. We walked through all the water stops and
hydrated well with water and gatorade. I had 4 Gu's at miles 5, 10, 15, and 20
(plus or minus a mile). There were no signs of any serious pain whatsoever: it felt
unreal to have run 20mi and to still feel so good, which was in stark contrast to
my first marathon experience. Some of the training runs with the CARA training group
along the lakefront in Chicago have also been good--even picked-up the pace (8:30-9:00)
in the final 2-3 miles of the run. I knew Jennifer would make it, and hence Jim and
I moved ahead after the 20mi mark. We stayed together till the 23mi mark, before I moved
on. Got calf cramps at around mile 24, but it did not impede my progress--I was too
close to the finish. Took no breaks from mile 22 onwards and I managed to sprint the
final 0.2mi to just break the 10:00min/mile barrier. With negative splits: 2:16 and
2:06 in the marathon, and a relatively pain-free race, I am not at all disappointed to
have missed the sub-4:15 goal. This marathon was in many ways how I perceived an ideal
first-marathon to be 
it just so happened to take place the second time around.
Today [28th], four days after the marathon, I feel pretty good. With only slight remnants of the cramps still present and no other soreness/pain, I am planning on heading out for a short run tomorrow. I look forward to training for an early Spring marathon (February/March) next year, and possibly incorporate strength training and speed-work into my regimen, so as to possibly shoot for a sub-4hr time. Any suggestions on marathons I should consider?