The second Cold Storage Kids Run attracted 25 per cent more participants than the 3,000 children who attended last year.

Organiser Terence Khoo, director of ESG Endurance Sport, said there are many marathons run in the Padang area but although many have a small component for children, there is no such run tailor-made for kids.

At Sunday's event, the longest run was 1.4km and the shortest was 700m. The races were devised by sports experts who determined the optimal distances kids should run.

At the starting line was Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Transport, Mr Teo Ser Luck, who brought his children, aged seven and nine as well as his friends' two kids to participate in the events.

After taking part in last year's inaugural event he decided to sit this one out. 'They found me too slow,' he added with a laugh. 'So this year, my daughter said she wanted to run on her own.'

Other parents and children enjoyed themselves in the run as well as the carnival where they could try their hand at shooting games and meeting other sporty kids.

'I love to run,' said seven-year-old Akkhaash Pillai and his four-year-old brother Akkshaye who also attended last year's event.

The Kids Run is one of many events promoted by the Urban Redevelopment Authority to highlight the Marina Bay area as a vibrant hub for sports and lifestyle activities.

Guest-of-honour Mr Teo said that overseas, parents take their children out to sports activities and also join in as coaches or referees. But here, parents spend their weekend taking their children from one enrichment class to another.

Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.