Smith, who ran his first marathon on the course last year, suffered badly with exhaustion and cramps around the 35km mark, before finding a second wind over the final 2km to launch a comeback and finish second in 2hr 46min 38sec.
Inexperience possibly cost the 21-year-old second-year ecology student, after he mixed it up early with eventual winner Romain Mirosa, in what were trying conditions.
"I had met my threshold and the tank was right on empty," he said of hitting the infamous marathon wall.
"I feel better prepared and a lot stronger than I did going into it last year."
He has added some marathon distance tempo runs into his training schedule this year.
"It’s about getting the body used to running at marathon pace, something that I hadn’t prepared for last year. That and the fact that the course can be quite exposed in places."
As part of his build-up, Smith has included a number of training course options, including the tried and true Waitati circuit, over which he included some of his tempo distance runs.
Smith began his preparation seriously back in March, with an early target of the New Zealand mountain running championships in Queenstown, where he finished eighth.
But since April his full focus has been on tomorrow’s marathon, where, given the conditions, he would like to knock on the door of a time close to 2hr 30min.
"I hope to run a real good effort and take the result as it comes," Smith said of his prospects.
He will not be lacking for support over the 42.2km journey between the Albatross Colony and Watson Park, as among his supporters travelling the course will be father Mike, brothers Andrew and Zinzan, and sister Gabby.
Mel Aitken is at even money to win the open women’s title, and become one of the most successful competitors in the event’s 35-year history.
Aitken returns as defending champion, after finishing runner-up in 2014, and winning at her first attempt on the course in 2013.
On all three occasions she lifted the associated Otago women’s marathon title as the first registered Otago female athlete to finish.
In the mix, along with Aitken, for the women’s title are Michelle Cobby, who finished fourth overall last year, and international race-walker Rozie Robinson, who won the women’s title of the half marathon walk last year.
Robinson’s 0ability to run the marathon is somewhat genetic, as her father Geoff [Robinson] is an ultra-distance running representative, and winner of the Dunedin Marathon in 1989.
Also stepping up from winning a half marathon walk title last year is Wayne Porteous.
He returns this year to take on the marathon run.
Sam Wreford, of Christchurch, is the favourite for the half marathon but may get a challenge from Kelly McSoriley, of Invercargill.
Otago cross-country champion Sabrina Grogan, international iron man and triathlete Tamsyn Hayes and multisporter Sharon Lequeux are all contenders for the women’s half marathon title.
Marathon day schedule
When and where
Marathon (42.2km): Begins 1km south of the Royal Albatross Colony, at 8am, following a course around the harbour to the finish on Watson Park, Port Chalmers. Buses transporting competitors to the start leave from race headquarters at the Sargood Centre at 6.15am and 6.30am.
Half marathon (21.1km): Run starts in Logan Park Dr near the tennis courts at 9.30am. Half marathon walk follows soon after, beginning at 9.33am.
Quarter marathon (11.7km): Run and walk start 9.15am, Logan Park Dr near tennis courts.
Age limits are 18 and over on race day for marathon. While the half marathon run/walk is open to all, those aged 12-16 must have written consent from a parent or guardian. No entry will be accepted from those under the age of 12.
Time limit: As permission is only granted to stage the event on the course between 8am and 1pm, no support can be offered to competitors outside this time.
Children’s Marathon Challenge: The final 2.195km of this seven-stage event starts at the gates to the University Oval at 8.30am following a course around Logan Park to the finish inside the Caledonian Ground.
Presentations: The Hub will be open from 3pm and prize-giving is expected to get under way at 4pm.
