I'M writing this blog the day after the race and the weather outside is wonderful - bright sunshine and blue skies are decorating the view outside. All in sharp contrast to 24 hours ago when race number 35 took me to Battersea Park in London for Beat the Baton.

Then the weather was awful. Our drive up the A3 from the south coast was marked by the windscreen wipers clearing heavy rain with dark, menacing clouds hanging overhead.

It is such a shame the race could not have been today because Beat the Baton deserved picnic weather. Instead, it got batten down the hatches weather.

The event is organised by the charity Sue Ryder Care, and despite the rain, wind and severe drop in temperatures down to 7c, hundreds of runners/joggers turned up, many wearing the yellow Sue Ryder plastic covers to protect themselves in the warm-up for the race.

A huge stage and television screen had been set up for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to play in the park. There were food stalls and tents.

We really should have been picnicing in the park with the children and enjoying the green surroundings in central London, with the famous towers of Battersea Power Station on the horizon. Instead, we were forced to eat our picnic in a car, and then wrap up as if it was mid-January before dashing to the start.

Liz, and my three boys Micah, Leo and Ross came with me for the race. Micah and Leo were on supporting and photographic duties and were brilliant. Liz bravely agreed to run the race, and for the first time Ross took part.

Last Friday I took possession of a specially-made running stroller for Ross. Despite his severe autism, Ross can walk, and he likes to run in short spurts, but he would never be able to run 5km. The stroller is designed and built by the Fordingbridge-based company, Delichon Ltd. The Delta Buggy doesn't come cheap, but for Ross it means he can participate in this year-long adventure.

Ross was strapped in to the buggy, and wrapped up. The hooter went off and the Royal Philharmonic struck up the familiar strains of William Tell's Overture as we headed off around the paths of Battersea Park.

It was raining and it was cold. It was also the first time I had run while pushing a buggy and I had no idea how I would get on. The buggy is lightweight and easy to steer, even with Ross inside. Liz forged ahead quickly, though I was unable to make much progress past the slower runners.

Eventually I did pick up speed and caught up with Liz. With Ross in his buggy seemingly unmoved by the experience, we were getting loads of cheers from the spectators who were braving the weather Other runners were pointing us to their partners marvelling at the sight of this mad runner easing past with a boy in his stroller, but it was noticeable how towards the end of the run those taking part were less than happy to be passed by Ross and his dad! It was as if we were taking the mickey.

We kept pace with Liz, but in truth Ross and I could have gone faster. This wasn't a race, more of a fun, but I wonder what time we could have done for 5km if we had gone hell for leather. We wouldn't have won, but the standard of runners was so low - most were joggers and occasional runners - that I think we could have made a top 10.

It was nice to hold back and to enjoy the run, as the Royal Philharmonic ran through a range of classics - Orpheus in the Underworld, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, the 1812 Overture.

We passed the bandstand for the second time to big cheers from the crowd close to the finish line and crossed in 25 minutes 30 seconds.

It was a fun experience. The experiment with running with a buggy had worked well. It hurt a little on the back, but that will ease with experience. Ross didn't seem at all perturbed either which was a relief.

It was just a shame about the weather which, if it had been kinder, would have made a good day just brilliant.