It has always been something I have wanted to do. I might have the time next year. Even this picture does not discourage me. Who has done it?
That’s about 1849th on my list of life “must do’s”. But it would be a blast if you’re crazy enough. Go for it and have fun.
I always figured it was like swimming the Alcatraz race. You don’t have to out swim the sharks, you just have to out swim some of the other swimmers.
I was about this → ← close to doing it in 2001. Unfortunately, I ran out of money while I was in Europe and didn’t do it.
I went in 2000. Logistics are difficult. Pamplona is WAY TOO CROWDED. The hardest part is getting a hotel room. If you’re college age or just cheap, you could sleep in a park and pray you don’t get robbed. Hard to get food as all the restaurants/bars are packed. Really helps if you speak spanish (or are hot chick) as the locals have private clubs (forgot what they are called, but it’s like a VFW) and these places don’t want American tourists.
The whole experience is too quick since you can’t outrun the bulls for more than a few seconds. Avoid the busy weekends, and wear shoes with traction as they clean the street before the run so it’s very slick.
go ahead and do it, you won’t forget it - neither will your liver (the drink of the festival is some weird combination of Coca-cola and wine).
Now that I’m older, If I were to do it again, I’d avoid the crowds and consider staying in Biarritz or San Sebastian and driving in the morning to Pamplona for the run… also I’ve heard Arles has a bull run that’s not so crowded (but I really haven’t found much information on the Arles bull run on the internet).
Good luck.
How about this one of the two brother getting gored in the rear at the same time.
I’ve never been to Spain. Even if I had, I doubt that I would do something like that. Not really my cup of tea. My brother, on the other hand, was in Spain a few years back and he did run with the bulls. He tells a great story about it that I certainly could not do justice. It starts out in a bar the night before where he was with his friend, who is a quadriplegic, and there is an old guy warning them not to run with the bulls because it is too dangerous.
Bernie
I was there 10 years ago but did not run. I sat in one of the few fences and watched the red cross drag injured runners into our corral. I stayed in San Sebastian. I have no desire to run and you wouldn’t either if you understood the logistics. First, you have to stay up all night drinking some crapy wine drink. Second, you do have to wear the white clothes and red bandana or you will look out of place and the yokals won’t get off your back. Finally, you get put into the plaza corral like a sardine with all those drunk yokals and when the canon goes off signaling the release of the bulls you’re in for deep shit. You can only run as fast as the guy in front of you, and the guy behind you is running faster than you. Most people get hurt by getting trampled. It is insanely crowded with drunks. The bulls have a 1.5 mile run and they do it in around 5 minutes. I didn’t do it because I was too drunk from staying up all night and I’m kind of glad. I also won’t go back as a tourist for the festival. Note, it really helps if you speak Spanish.
I know a guy (6’5+ and HUGE as in defensive linebacker, played pro football huge) that did it and said it was the stupist thing he’s ever done. He planned on doing it more than one day, ran once and called it quits.
Is it worth getting a horn up your ass? I think that is the question.
The above is a map of the bull run course. A couple of points - the green road “Santo Domingo” and the red road “Estafeta” are completely cleared of runners. ALL the runners are corralled like sardines in the “plaza” curve where Santo Domingo and Estafeta meet. They close the corral at least 30 minutes before the bulls are released so they can clear the streets - they put barricades on all the streets so no one can get in OR get out!. The bulls and steers are then released from the far left side of the course in the Corralillos and they have a solid 1/4 mile of free space to get speed before meeting the first persons in the plaza corall. You know when they release the bulls when you hear a canon go off, they lower the barricades and then everyone starts to panic and run down Estafeta. No way you can make it more than a block before you’re colliding with people and the bulls are upon you. As I understood it, only about a dozen or so people make into the Plaza de Toros before the bulls arrive - and then these crazy bastards then proceed to play matador with them.
This article is actually pretty funny, but true. This guy’s advise is to walk the course at least 5 times with an experienced runner while you are sober so you know what to expect. From being there, I can tell you that there are no walkways to get into if you want to avoid the bulls or get scared - you are on the course and they will not let you out unless you are bleeding (I saw them physically push people back into the course). Once you are in the course the only thing you can hope for is that the bulls pass you safely and that you don’t get trampled (if the person in front of you falls you are going to have issues).
Article Link
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That first pic is craaazzzyy!!!
Did you mess up with the middle one? 
Terrifying! I only just escaped!
I would love to do it but a word of warning… it can be scary. I’ve handled livestock for years, and have been in a rodeo. When you are on ground level, in a corral with the bulls or even full grown cows with horns, you’re on their turf, and if they’re at full gallop, it is terrifying. I managed to get gored (horned) in the leg, and had to go to the hospital, but it was a small puncture wound that went almost all the way to the bone. I was able to recover within days, but all of my bruises made for a lot of funny looks at the swimming pool.
I don’t get the draw to this. So basically, a person wants to put themselves in a confined space so they can run away from stampeding half ton animals with horns? It’s not like a matador or a hunter or something where you’re matching wits with the animal or using some sort of skill or anything. I just don’t get it.
Did you here about the 2 brothers this year? Both got simultaneously gored by the same bull. Maybe they should implement a a similar policy as the military, no brothers in the same run maybe?
~Matt
Hey…I have that hat!!!
Woo, Pig! Sooie!!!
My dad did it in 1966 while he was stationed in Germany. He still has his red neckerchief - unwashed - from the run. He was a speedy runner back in the day and said he went into it cocky as anything but left absolutely terrified. I always thought I would do it… then I found out that women are not allowed. Oh well.