Lace Up Together: Why the BYD Singapore International Marathon presented by adidas Is the Family Outing to Book This December

Mums and dads, here’s a year-end plan the whole family will actually cheer for. From 4 to 6 December 2026, the BYD Singapore International Marathon presented by adidas returns, with a race for every family member, from your littlest toddler to the teen who thinks they can outrun you (let them try). 

The best part? You don’t need to be a “runner” to take part. With a 600m Kids Dash, a beginner-friendly 5km and the ever-popular Standard Chartered 10km, this is less about chasing podiums and more about making memories, together. 

Friday is Family Race Day 

Here’s why 4 December is the date to circle. It’s the day built for families. In the morning, the little ones take centre stage at the Kids Dash. Then in the evening, the 5km and the Standard Chartered 10km flag off, so older kids, teens and parents can have

their own moment under the lights. Picture it: medals in the morning, a cooler evening run as the city lights come on, and plenty of proud family photos in between. 

The 5km and Standard Chartered 10km end at the National Stadium, so your kids get a big-stadium, big-cheers finish they’ll talk about long after. 

A Distance for Every Age 

One thing we love about this event is that no one gets left on the sidelines. Here’s how the family can split up the fun: 

• Kids Dash (600m), ages 0 to 9: A gentle, non-competitive first race, with a shiny finisher medal at the end. Perfect for your youngest, and yes, you can be right there with them. ● Kids Dash (1.6km), ages 7 to 12: A step up for your growing runners, complete with an official timing chip, finisher medal and e-certificate. There’s a competitive wave for ages 10 to 12 too, for the little speedsters who want a real race. 
• 5km, ages 10 and up: Billed as one of the most accessible distances, this is the ideal first “proper” race for tweens, teens and parents dipping a toe into running. ● Standard Chartered 10km, ages 13 and up: The next challenge for confident teens and parents who want to go a little further, with a generous 2.5-hour cut-off so there’s no pressure to be fast. 

Why Race as a Family? 

Beyond the medals, signing up together does something lovely for families: ● It’s screen-free, quality time. Training walks and jogs in the weeks before become your new family ritual. 

• It builds confidence. Few things beat the look on a child’s face when they cross a finish line and get that medal placed around their neck. 
• It models healthy habits. When kids see mum and dad lacing up, they learn that moving your body is just something the family does and enjoys. 
• It’s a memory, not just an event. The matching outfits, the pre-race nerves, the celebratory supper after. This is the stuff your kids will remember. 

Make It a Full-on Family Weekend 

Race day isn’t just the race. The Home of Runners buzzes all weekend, with cheering crowds at the National Stadium and the feel-good energy of Singapore’s national marathon. Make it a proper family outing: run on Friday, then spend the weekend at the Race Expo, integrated with the finish line at the National Stadium for the first time. It promises a weekend of entertainment, F&B, shopping and more. 

Parent Tips Before You Sign Up

• Register early. Popular family categories fill up, so don’t leave it to the last minute.
• Train together, gently. A few easy jog-walks a week in the lead-up is all your kids need.
• Download the official event app to keep all your race-day details in one place.
• Pack the essentials: water, a light snack, a cap, and a fully charged phone for those finish-line photos. 

Ready, Set, Sign Up 

Whether you’ve got a toddler ready for their first Dash, a tween eyeing the 5km, or a teen keen to take on the Standard Chartered 10km, your family has a start line waiting this December. Find all the race details and sign up at singaporeinternationalmarathon.com. The last day of registration is 31 October. 

See you at the start line, and more importantly, at the finish.