The 12th edition of Plovdiv's Friendship Marathon welcomed over 1,000 runners, according to organizers. The event also aims to provide scholarships for medical students through the BCause Foundation's "Ready for Success" program, targeting students with exceptional academic performance who have lost a parent or grown up without parental care.

The marathon offered a diverse range of distances suitable for participants of all ages and abilities. The first to start were the runners in the 10.55 km, 2×10.55 km, and Decathlon Mass Cross events covering 3 km. Next were the participants in the half-marathon (21.1 km) and full marathon (42.2 km). The half-marathon was led off by Ivan Malkodanski, the Chairman of Plovdiv's Municipal Council.

The children’s race followed, with the youngest participants — up to seven years old — completing one lap around the Paraklis Mausoleum "St. George the Victorious." Older children completed two or three laps. The last to start were the runners with disabilities, including the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Natalia Efremova, the President of Bulgaria's Economic and Social Council, Zornitsa Rusinova, and Deputy Mayor of Plovdiv, Pavlina Kirova. Rusinova carried the youngest participant, a six-month-old baby, along the route.

The event's co-organizer, Stanimira Georgieva, added that over 1,000 participants from eight nationalities had registered for this year's marathon, with over 550 children participating, including a full class of 39 students from the school in the village of Obnova, Levski municipality. The oldest participant is 82 years old and will run the 3 km race, while a 79-year-old runner has signed up for the 10 km distance.

Compared to last year, Georgieva noted, there has been an increase in both children and adult participants in the 10 km race. The marathon is supported by the Municipality of Plovdiv.