Running without music, scary stuff!

Today was long run day for me. (Normally long run day is Sunday but I am a bit off schedule due to a very minor foot injury about 2 weeks ago)

I decided that today was THE day.....to run without music, and even more scary than that, I ran without my RunKeeper app lady telling me when I hit each kilometre and my time at each kilometre. Gasp!
My reason to make this bold move (ok, maybe that's a bit melodramatic) was because when I run my first ever race (the GC half) I want to be able to soak up the atmosphere of the day, without my own music.

I've really worked on my pace so the aim today was just to run steadily for 2 hours and see how I went.

I'd love to tell you it was great, but the truth is that it felt yuk pretty much from start to finish.

Why? I don't really know.

Was it because I had no music?
Was it because my shin was really hurting until around the 6 or 7 km mark?
Did I not have enough water the last few days and this morning? I thought I did
Did what I ate yesterday and this morning let me down? Or is that just trying to find an excuse?
Was it because it was a sunny 22 degree day and I was running in the middle of it instead of the crisp morning?

Did not having music make me think too much? I kept thinking I was going too slow and that it was hurting and then I think that negativity just stuck around for the whole time. At some points I felt like I was doing the Cliffy Young shuffle instead of running.
For the last 20 minutes I think I looked at my watch every minute to see if it was over yet. I have NEVER done that.

Then again there was a part of me that was really happy with it. I knew that the distance would be ok and was even worried at some points i'd have run too far. I have never run over 20km on purpose. I want my first ever 21.1km to be on the actual race day so that I am elated to have reached that distance, with no pressure about beating a PB.

And another thing, which I wasn't totally oblivious to: boy, do I breathe heavy. I can not breathe through my nose so every gasp is made through my mouth. I chuckled to myself a bit at the thought that at least I am giving any runners in front of me the warning that I am approaching.

So, how did I do?
I ran 19.47km in 1:55:34. Pace wasn't spectacular but it was steady. I averaged 5:56 mins per km (I've done a similar distance before at 5:45) so it was still under 6:00 which is all I am really aiming for on race day.
Now that its over and i've iced my shin and showered I am overall pleased with it. If this is me at my worst then race day will be fine. Adrenaline on the day should help too.

I hope your long run day was better than this