The "Running of the Bulls" is one of the most famous traditions in the world. It takes place every July in the small Spanish town of Pamplona, during the Fiesta of San Fermin. Participants run with six bulls through the narrow streets with the end goal of reaching the bull fighting arena before they close the doors.
Pre-walk the course, so you know every turn and how long the route is. Don't bother looking for hiding spots, as they will be long gone before you can ever use them. Also, they grease anything that might be climbed. The point is, you are right there with the bulls, and there's no escaping that fact.
It gets crowded, so to get a desirable spot, make sure you get there before 7:30AM. At the very least, get in the street at least 15 minutes before 8AM as they will lock off all entrances and exits about 5 minutes before the start. This is to allow the ambulances and medical staff to have a clear channel to tend to the wounded!
Boom! The first rocket goes off. That's your cue to start running. Actually, you start off with a trot, as the bulls are let loose a few hundred yards away. You'll know when they are getting close as the pace of the run picks up. Before you know it, they bulls will be right with you.
As you run with the bulls, watch out for any that fall out of the pack of six. Bulls are most dangerous when on their own. It's a defensive mechanism that makes them very deadly. Also, make sure to stay on the inside of all corners. The cobblestone streets are slick, and the bulls will often fall down when rounding the corners, taking everything with them on the way. The most dangerous corner is at Mercaderes and Estafeta, nicknamed "Hamburger Wall."
Make sure you keep up with the bulls all the way to the arena. If you fall too far behind, the doors will be closed when you get there, and you will have failed. The goal is to get into the arena before the doors close.
Just when you thought it was over, the fun just begins! They let out one bull in the arena, and then a second. It is a challenge to keep your eye on both bulls at the same time. It is inevitable that someone eventually gets hit from behind, just like on the Bugs Bunny cartoon.
