5K or 10K?

We got to Warren Friday night/ Saturday morning at 2:30AM (we left at 7:30) I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to stay awake but we made it, with the help of a ton of stuff I normally don't consume.
A Venti Coffee from Starbucks full caf, not decaf at around 8:30. Then we hit construction at 10:30PM on I 80. So we hit the side roads using the GPS. As we were riding the nice country roads we came across this stretch of road that would be awesome for a bike TT race (it's shorter than I thought). Great pavement and almost no side roads. They could just close off both ends and you could fly. Only 4 miles but it looked fun.
We stopped again and I bought a Mt Dew and a Dr. Pepper. I can't remember the last time I drank a soda, but it was necessary to make it home safely. Genine was asleep for most of the ride. I was surprised at how easily I stayed awake. Glad to have made it safely.
We woke up at 8AM then went to the Y to register for a fundraiser 5K or 10K. As I'm making breakfast, it feels like my hands are shaking from being buzzed on the caffeine and sugar last night. Very odd and weird. I guess that's why I gave it up.
We get to the Y, I see Jim and Marty I ask which they are doing. Jim says he has a chance to win the 5K so he's going to go for it. Marty says it's too hot for the 10K. Hmmm good point. I walk back over to Genine and ask which she wants to do. She says 10K. Alright, 10K it is, why not?
Jim, Marty and I go run a bit for a warmup. I'm surprised at how well I'm moving considering the long car trip last night. Very cool maybe I can put down a good run this morning afterall.
The 5K and 10K start at the same time an out and back course where the 5K has an earlier turn around is all. I didn't think about it much and I lined up towards the front of the pack. They sound the horn and we are off. The 5K speedsters are up ahead of me which is to be expected. I kind of am zoned out and just running. As I'm approaching the 5K turn around Jim is headed back at me as the leader. Nice! I pass the turn around and look ahead to see who's out there. Then I notice the 2 mile marker and I hit my watch for a split. 14:13. YIKES! That is too quick. Alright just dial it back a bit and get back into 10K mode. (easier said than done I guess). Mile 3 in 7:31 and my HR monitor is flaking out. It is HOT and I'm already wishing I had signed up for the 5K.
I get to the 5K turn around at 22:23 and I stop running. Legs are alright, Lungs are OK. HR is probably a bit too high for a 10K but not awful. So what's the problem? I am mentally exhausted already. Alright whatever, gotta get back to the finish. Just take it easy on the way back in, not a big deal. Mile 4 in 7:55 (including breaks). I stopped and walked quite a few times. Which was weird because physically I was feeling ok. Just too tired to be doing this. People would run by me and say. "You can do it, let's go!" Which was funny to me. I haven't been "that person" for quite awhile. Even more funny to me was that when I would start running again, I'd end up passing them again..... only to end up walking and they pass me again. I'm sure they were thinking "this guy needs to learn how to pace".
As I'm in the last mile running past my Jr High School, I hear someone yell from a car "Go Matt". I look over and see my friend Jen Olson driving by, guess that's the fun part of running a hometown race. I wave and think to myself that I'm glad I wasn't walking right then. LOL. Alright, not much further to go, there is one guy out ahead of me that might be in my age group. (not that I have a chance at anything with how this is going). I use it as motivation, I get by him and then look to the next person. She's far enough ahead that it's unlike that I'll catch her but I keep pushing. I thought when we got to the track we were going to get 3/4 of a lap. Instead I get there, Jim and Marty are there cheering and saying finish is just ahead. Only 100m probably, I've got a kick in me, I'm not going to catch anyone but I may as well look like I'm capable of running. So I sprint it in and finish... somewhere just shy of 50 minutes.
Live and learn. I could have run the 5K and maybe have finished at my best race pace of the year. Instead I ran the 10K and finished with my worst run pace of the year. (not confirmed but probably so). I definitely learned the importance of rest and was surprised at the fact that it attacked the mental side of my race more than the physical.
Admittedly I did start out too hot running with the 5Kers instead of holding back and shooting for a negative split 10K. That played a part as well, for sure.
You know what? It was still fun and I'm glad we got to run this morning.
If you are wondering how the rest of the crew finished. You will have to wait for the rest of the reports. :-)