I ran a 10k race today. It was 28 degrees on the course and by about 3k I knew I’d have no hope of shaving 6 mins of my PB of 56 minutes.

By 4k, and after having watched the elite men nearly finished at 7.5k on the other side of the road, I was happy just to finish. I’m not sure I can say I enjoyed any of it which is a first for me.

I actually turned in a 59 minute time which is pretty okay. I was gutted initially but then realised about two thousand people didn’t even finish and decided to be less hard on myself. Frustratingly, I was on target and reached 7k at 38 minutes but the lack of shade and high temperatures finally got to me. It took me 21 minutes to do that final 3k. It was also pretty sweet to run part of the Olympic road race course and head up the Pall to finish with all the union jacks up.

Still, now I have a week off – boyfriend’s orders – and a chance to train up to the Run to the Beat half in late October. It might well rain for that one but I’ll be grateful to not be running in such high temperatures for a while.

Big kudos to my fellow running partners Soraya and Jo. We’ll smash the next one ladies!

I want a coffee shop near me that has a bench in the shade, really good cappuccinos, gorgeous branding and someone who remembers how I like my drink.

The one pictured, the Bluebird, was on East 1st Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue and ticked every box. I didn’t bother with Starbucks.

Russ Chimes – Back to You

Porter Robinson – Language

Julio Bashmore – Au Seve

Justin Martin – Ruff Stuff

Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas ft Iggy Azalea – Beat Down

Some super cool leather and neon nearly flat sandals from Bertie

A polka dot shirt from J.Crew

A gorgeous lilac silk tank from Madewell

A John Lewis Madison Leather Sofa

and a formica table like this one. Sigh.

Luckily, they are almost next to each other on 5th Avenue. If J.Crew is the more formal, grown up brand then Madewell is it’s experimental and fashion driven little sister. I love both of their look books (linked above).

As part of the same parent group though, they do share great dedication to colour, simple basics, leather and denim that I love so much. I actually probably could have dropped a grand or more in J.Crew.

I restrained myself and went for a few carefully chosen items although I am really regretting not getting a striped shirt like the one right at the bottom. A cheeky post payday online order might be on the cards.

Two shirts in Neon Rose and Black Stripe

A bangle in Sweet Lemon

A popover shirt in Navy Stripe