ENERGY-SAPPING heat provided an added challenge for London Marathon entrants yesterday as thousands of pounds was raised by Oxfordshire runners.

Many competitors struggled in the spring sunshine, with some needing to dig deep to cross the finishing line.

Luke Hearn, from Wallingford, ran alongside his mother Vanessa in the hope of raising £5,500 for Arthritis Research UK.

The 25-year-old, who was tackling his second marathon, said: “It was blooming hot. Without doubt it was at least 50 per cent harder than last time. I’ve never felt so bad, but it feels brilliant to finish.”

Mr Hearn, 49, said: “I feel absolutely elated, I’m over the moon. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for 15 years and now I’ve actually done it. I’m in pain but it’s just an amazing feeling.

“It was a damn sight harder than I’d imagined. I’ve always been told it would be, but you don’t realise until you actually do it. I take my hat off to anybody who does it.”

Matthew Wheatley, from Watlington, hopes to have raised more than £1,600 for Steps – a charity which supports people affected by lower limb conditions – after his son Noah was born with club feet.

He said: “It went well. I’m a bit sore, but all-in-all I managed to do it in just under five hours.

“It was very warm. It was ok up until about 11.30am when the temperature went up a lot and the sun was beating down and people started flagging.

“I think I hit the wall at about 17 or 18 miles but I managed to get through it, although it was progressively harder after that.”

The 39-year-old electrician said having his name on his race number meant he got a lot of encouraging cheers from the crowd. He added: “It was a really good atmosphere.”

Glenn Aitchison, from Wantage, tackled the course dressed as a nurse alongside brother Darren, who wore a doctor’s uniform.

Glenn, who is serving in the Royal Logistics Corps, ran in aid of The Soldiers’ Charity.

The 38-year-old said: “It was a bit too hot, but the crowds are brilliant and they’re cheering for you from the first metre all the way to the finish and beyond.”

Andrew Wiffen, from Kidlington, raised more than £2,200 for Sobell House hospice in memory of his father Terry, who died of a brain tumour in September 2007, aged 61.

The 35-year-old said: “It was a lot harder than I thought. When they say about the wall, they mean the wall!

“My calf muscles went into spasm and my legs went to jelly, but I managed to buck up my ideas and ran in at the finish.”

Alex Baker suffered an ankle injury at 16 miles, but was inspired to keep on going by his desire to raise about £2,500 for Helen and Douglas House hospices in Oxford.

The 35-year-old, from Wantage, said: “It was that thought that just digs away at the back of your mind every time you feel like stopping.

“It was just telling me you’ve got to keep going.

“I reckon the last 10 miles were a combination of hobbling and limping but there was no way I wasn’t going to finish.”