How can people run without music?

Last Sunday the training group ran 8 miles. Because of the hurricane both the Sat and Sun groups ran on Sunday. I got to see shortestamiga and nospinzone. They ran with the half group so they could run with Bob. This week's long run was interesting. I ran part of the distance with a woman from the Sunday group. She was struggling so I slowed down to run with her. After about three miles it was obvious that she was too injured to continue. I got her back to where we started and she stopped running. By this point I was so far behind everybody else I had the run the last 5 miles by myself. Normally I don't mind running alone. That's how I usually run. but that day I was without music and left all alone with my thoughts. I need some type of distraction on my runs. Either music or talking but something other than just my thoughts and my breathing. I made it but it wasn't my best effort. How can people do this for miles without music?