Thousands took part in the Haifa 9 race on Friday, May 5, 2025, which returned for the first time in six years, in several stages. One of the stages in the race opened with a half-minute of applause in honor of the fallen and their families and with a call for the return of the kidnapped.
The race, which started this morning, included several divisions this year, which were adapted to all different ages: a competitive 10 km division from the age of 14 that started at 06:30, a competitive 5 km division from the age of 13 that started at 07:15, and popular divisions for families and school students from the age of 8, with a length of 1.5 and 1.25 km that started at 08:00, a special division for participants with special needs – which also started at 08:00, and a popular 2.5 / 1.25 km division – which started at 09:00 in the morning.
The race started from "Dado" Beach and went along a circular route along David Elazar Streets, through Shikmona Promenade, Hubert Humphrey Street and back to the finish line at "Dado" Beach. Race participants were awarded a race shirt, a participation medal, as well as choppers and other treats. It should be noted that water stations were set up along the race route, for the benefit of the participants. In addition, a water station was set up at the finish point of the race, which included a first aid station.
Grandfather and his grandchildren
Among the thousands of runners who took part in the race were members of the Ben Shaul family from Haifa. They were the grandfather, Dr. Yaakov Ben Shaul, 68, and his two grandsons, the eldest, Yonatan Ben Shaul, 12, a sixth grade student at the Einstein School on Mount Carmel, and his youngest grandson, Yair Ben Shaul, 10, a fourth grade student who also attends the Einstein School.
At the end of the race and all the runners, Dr. Yaakov Ben Shaul said with great excitement to the news reporter for "Hai Fe News Corporation": "This is a mass fanning, you missed this race, I finished my race in the morning at 6:30 in the morning, I ran 10 km, and then after I finished I ran with my two grandsons, Yonatan and Yair, in the people's race, and Yair also happens to be celebrating his birthday today. I was happy this morning that the race had finally returned to the city of Haifa, I was happy and very excited to take part and run together with my two grandsons, Yonatan and Yair, to run alongside them. There is no greater fun than that, it was truly a wonderful pleasure, I am very happy that running is ingrained in our family and is passed on to future generations. It is simply a dream to run together with your grandchildren!".
At the end of the race, 12-year-old Yonatan Ben Shaul told the news reporter for "Hai Pa News Corporation": "It was simply a very unusual and overwhelming experience. It was a fun Friday. We even received medals for our participation in the race. And to run with your grandfather? What a dream. We will never forget such a run!"
What does a race to return hostages have to do with it...are you fed up?