Birmingham Mail editor nearly beaten by a giant dog...

So there I was, warming up under the gaze of athletics star Aisha Hansen, along with nearly 2,000 others in the Birmingham Mail Fun Run on Sunday.

I know I'm over-weight, but this was my moment, a time when I would steadily jog 5km and come in ahead of at least half the runners.

And, in fairness, I did beat a stilt walker (it surely must have been easy for him up there on sticks), and in the final length I was neck-to-neck with a giant dog...!

But I did it! A very steady pace, timed at about 44-minutes, which was 90 seconds faster than last year.

My oldest son, Thomas, 16, came 5th out of the entire field in about 16 minutes (dad's pride/error... Tom tells me this was just over 18 mins). Younger sons Ben, 12, and Daniel, 9, both managed it in about 26 minutes.

Ruth, their mum, made a very respectable 36 minutes (she's the good-looking one on the first picture, runner number 1513).

And, thanks to some very generous sponsors, the Dysons' efforts were worth a grand total of £700.

That was the real pleasure of the day. Nearly 2,000 Brummies out enjoying a sunny afternoon together... for other people.

Sponsorships will take a few weeks to roll in, but going by last year's average we're looking like at least £80,000, and possibly as much as £100,000.

This will be split 85% to Macmillan Cancer Support, the main organisers, and 15% to the Birmingham Mail Charity Trust, helping deprived, voluntary community groups.

Well done one and all! (Especially the dog!!)