More Chat, Less Speed

Another long run ticked off the list!
Quite enjoyed this Tuesday's speed / fartlek session - mainly due to the fact that it wasn't on the track.  I know the track surface is good for your joints but it is a tad boring just running round in circles.  Okay we were pounding the pavements again but at least the scenery was changing as we did so!
I was coaching last night so tried to do a 50 minutes steady run but ended up as front coach for the last couple of miles, and I went a bit fast.  Need to get the sound sorted out on my Garmin so it beeps when I go too quickly or too slowly.
Today I set off for a 2 hour 30 minute run on my own.  Now I used to run quite a lot on my own, when training for longer races that my running buddies weren't into, so I'm not fussed about it.  However, it is so much nicer running with other people.  Apart from the safety aspect which we all have to consider, there's also some way to gauge your speed without constantly checking your watch.  We usually do this by the ultra scientific method of talking to each other.  If you can't chat, you're probably going to fast.  We talk constantly - if anyone has a particularly complicated tale to tell, we say 'that's an 18mile story'.  Not only does the banter and the gossip help the miles go by more easily, it keeps our pace steady.  I've already admitted to talking to myself but I don't (yet) do so out loud.  Out there by myself today, I went too fast.  
I turned off my music as I thought that might help.  Runners World refers to people who have filled their MP3 players with tracks of exactly the right number of beats per minute to keep them at the right pace, but I have too many other demands on my time. (Although if anyone wants to volunteer to sort my music library for me....?!)  What I need is a recording of Sarah saying 'How fast are we going?' on a 5 minute loop to keep me steady!
I arrived home in 2hours 26 minutes having finished 14.5 miles, with (at least) 30 minutes at marathon pace.
What's the problem with going too fast?  There's a long way to go yet.  I don't want to over do it and end up with an injury.  If I feel I can go faster at mile 20 on the 17th April, fine, I'll go for it.  Until then, more tortoise, less hare!