I just discovered what the Striding Slyders are, too -- that's the pace group Columbus is using this year (an early pace group there, I guess, now returning for the 40th), taking over for the Clif Pacers they've used recently. I haven't seen on the website yet what the times will be for those groups.
Sounds good. And it sounds like you have a good developing sense of your pace and plan. I'm guessing you're inferring goal pace from several of your key workout results across different distances/paces. And since you've mentioned a conservative pace early, you should be good. In some of my early marathons, I really got suckered into going out too fast, then blowing up late.