SWEAT, tears and sun stroke were among the trials faced by Oxfordshire runners during yesterday’s Flora London Marathon.

Scores of runners from the county endured the gruelling 26.2-mile race around the capital on a warmer than expected day.

More than 35,000 competitors took in sights including Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace during the prestigious event.

Oxford-born runner Mara Yamauchi finished second in the women’s section of the race.

The former Headington Roadrunner clocked a personal best of 2hrs 23mins 12secs.

The 35-year-old lives and trains in Japan with her husband Shigetoshi.

Her father Norman Myers, 74, from Headington, said: “I felt enormously proud watching her cross the finish line. I was feeling huge admiration as she kept on battling.

“It was her personal best and I know she will be over the moon.”

Other Oxfordshire runners doing themselves proud included Stephen Evins, of Wolsey Court, Woodstock.

The 28-year-old pounded the streets quicker than expected in 3hr 32mins.

He said: “I feel great. The atmosphere was amazing. “The weather was nice and sunny — a bit hotter than I would have liked — but it was a perfect day.”

The IT salesman pledged his run would raise £2,200 for Helen and Douglas House Hospice in East Oxford.

Mr Evins added: “It was hard and on a few occasions I began to slow down, but the crowd was there to cheer me on and keep me going.”

Oxford city councillor Mark Lygo collapsed at the end of his 4hr 17min race. Mr Lygo, 35, of Valentia Road, Headington, also ran in aid of Helen and Douglas House Hospice.

He said: “I got sun stroke and collapsed on the floor. It was my first marathon and I had never run over 20 miles.

“I remember thinking: What am I doing this for? There were lots of mixed emotions.

The atmosphere was phenomenal – something I had never experienced. It is the crowd who drive you to keep going.”

Sean Brown, 37, of Boswell Road, Cowley, ran in aid of Oxford’s Sobell House Hospice charity.

He completed the race in 4hrs and 8mins – faster than the first time he did the London Marathon in 2000, when he finished in 5hrs 2mins.

Mr Brown has so far raised £700 for the charity, which is based at the Churchill Hospital, in Headington.

The postman, who works at the East Oxford delivery office, said: “It was hot going all the way round and it was really loud. You never feel on your own. The spirit of the event was great and it kept me going.”

Pauline Bampton, 37, of Home Close, Wolvercote, finished in 4hrs 12mins.

Mrs Bampton, who ran for Oxfordshire Outdoor Learning Trust, was cheered on by her husband John and children Emily, 11, and William, eight.

She said: “I was really pleased. The crowd were fantastic.”

Eileen Naughton, 27, of Wessex Road, Didcot, was ecstatic when she finished in 4hrs 10mins.

Ms Naughton, who ran in aid of Children with Leukaemia, said: “There were so many people. They kept pushing me along. It was brilliant.”

Rob Hills, 38, of St Hilda’s Close, Didcot, crossed the line in 5hrs 52mins, in aid of the Silver Star charity at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

He said: “I am alive and I have a medal. I used a run, walk and then back in to a run strategy. It was very hard.”

Nurse Sam Varney, 22, of Somerton, near Bicester, finished in 5hrs.

She said: “I really enjoyed myself despite the blisters. I told myself to keep going and not to give up.”

Celebrities including chef Gordon Ramsey, Katie Price and husband Peter Andre and Nell McAndrew also took to the streets to raise thousands for charities.

hcover@oxfordmail.co.uk