At 6 a.m., thousands of families flocked to Tran Phu Street, the section running along the central beach. In the cool weather of 25-26 degrees Celsius, groups of young runners in colorful shirts gathered and warmed up before the starting time. At 7 a.m. sharp, the 6-year-old group began the race, followed by older age groups, amidst the cheers of parents along both sides of the road.

Young runners start the race with the cheers of thousands of parents and locals. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

Young runners start the race with the cheers of thousands of parents and locals. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

This year's event maintained the scale of 2,000 young runners, but the number of parents accompanying them increased dramatically, estimated at 3,000 people, significantly more than in previous seasons. The large number of spectators made maintaining order more challenging. The organizers arranged traffic flow, set up barriers early on, and guided parents to their designated standing areas. Many parents chose spots near the finish line to call out their children's names and capture the moment they crossed the finish line.

Along the nearly one-kilometer coastal route, many parents ran alongside the barriers, constantly encouraging their children. Some children, participating for the first time, were hesitant in front of the crowd but were encouraged by volunteers and key opinion leaders (KOLs) to complete the course. At the end of the journey, each child received a medal, amid cheers and raised phones capturing the finish line moment.

Crowds of parents stand outside the barriers cheering. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

Crowds of parents stand outside the barriers cheering. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

"I was a little nervous but very happy, and I will try my best to get a medal," said 7-year-old Hoang Long. Quoc Trung, whose 8-year-old son participated, said seeing his son run the entire distance for the first time made him emotional: "Seeing him hug the medal with joy, I feel all the training efforts and bib preparation we did together were truly worthwhile."

The organizing committee stated that in addition to completely closing the running area, volunteers were stationed at every obstacle, and medical staff were on duty throughout the event. Each young runner had an accompanying parent bib to ensure that only the designated guardian could pick up the child at the finish area. "This method helps control the number of people, avoid crowding, and provides peace of mind for families," a representative of the organizing committee said.

Along with the running track, a play area opened early for groups who finished early to have more experiences. Children lined up to participate in games such as "Strong Race Track", "Super Kun Hands", "Super Memory", and more to receive gifts. The "Kun Kun Jelly Milk Slide" game area didn't open until 8 a.m., but it attracted a long line of children and parents from around 7:30 a.m.

A child dressed in a navy soldier cosplay outfit. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

A child dressed in a navy soldier cosplay outfit. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

Some children and parents enjoyed interacting with artist Truong Giang and KOLs like Tieu Ngao, Boi Boi Mike Den, Trong Thy, and Hao Khang at the stage area. Seats were arranged here for children to relax and avoid crowding in the busy area.

Many families combined the race with a summer vacation. Thu Ha, from Hanoi, said her family chose Nha Trang for both a relaxing getaway and for her 9-year-old son to experience running along the beach before the new school year. "The weather is cool, and the children can run while listening to the waves and breathing in the fresh air. This is a summer memory he will cherish for a long time," she said.

Lan Anh