Are You Fit to Run With Pamplona Bulls?
Jul 6th, 2006, 11:42 AM
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Are You Fit to Run With Pamplona Bulls?
BBC carried a blurb about an official of Pamplona's Running with the Bulls (San Fermin) Festival and said he had created an online questionnaire to fill out to see whether or not you're up to running with the bulls. But BBC didn't give the site and googling didn't come up with it either.
Anyone know the site - i'd like to take the survey though i have NO plans to run with the torros.
Some interesting tidbits from the BBC Radio thing:
More people get hurt on Sat and Sun due to more people running and often run over by other people and not the bulls.
Monday is the most dangerous day as it's when they release the bulls from the farms that supply the most ferocious bulls.
If you fall, roll up into a ball and don't try to get up or you could be gored - better to be trampled a bit i guess.
PETA Spain annually runs a bit before the actual running which starts after three rockets are fired at 8am - most of the crowd mocks them - they run in outlandish outfits and protest signs.
Bulls are helped start running by being swatted on their rears with rolled up newspapers
Anyone know the site - i'd like to take the survey though i have NO plans to run with the torros.
Some interesting tidbits from the BBC Radio thing:
More people get hurt on Sat and Sun due to more people running and often run over by other people and not the bulls.
Monday is the most dangerous day as it's when they release the bulls from the farms that supply the most ferocious bulls.
If you fall, roll up into a ball and don't try to get up or you could be gored - better to be trampled a bit i guess.
PETA Spain annually runs a bit before the actual running which starts after three rockets are fired at 8am - most of the crowd mocks them - they run in outlandish outfits and protest signs.
Bulls are helped start running by being swatted on their rears with rolled up newspapers
Jul 6th, 2006, 12:14 PM
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Running with the bulls is a fitness thing, but more than that it is knowing what you are doing. There are groups that run and work together so that the running goes well, and random drunk people tend to mess that up. However, they are always taken into acount because they are a part of the whole scene, moreso now that so many people from afar can travel to do it.
Jul 6th, 2006, 01:57 PM
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Many years ago I was going to go to Pamploma with a group of friends. Not to run, just to be a spectator (also dangerous). Then I re-read Hemmingway's "The Sun Also Rises" and changed my mind. Too many out of control drunks pushing and shoving.
Nina
Nina
Jul 6th, 2006, 02:38 PM
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the website is
http://www.sanfermines.com/
go to "encierrometro" on the left to get a graph of how READY you are to run.
i have my coffee every morning at 8 am and watch the 5 minutes of craziness.. shaking my head, and wondering how all this turned into such a bizarre fiesta.
"Spain is different..." our national motto.
(that's true, by the way, jokingly or not, all spaniards who know a little english.. get a kick out of saying that with a heavy accent, or - in spanish. It is a self crticism quite common here.)
i think one of the most popular parts of san fermines is the naked parade of tons of gorgeous bodies, men and women, protesting animal abuse. they were on t.v yesterday uncensored.. quite a parade..
at least more exciting for most...
http://www.sanfermines.com/
go to "encierrometro" on the left to get a graph of how READY you are to run.
i have my coffee every morning at 8 am and watch the 5 minutes of craziness.. shaking my head, and wondering how all this turned into such a bizarre fiesta.
"Spain is different..." our national motto.
(that's true, by the way, jokingly or not, all spaniards who know a little english.. get a kick out of saying that with a heavy accent, or - in spanish. It is a self crticism quite common here.)
i think one of the most popular parts of san fermines is the naked parade of tons of gorgeous bodies, men and women, protesting animal abuse. they were on t.v yesterday uncensored.. quite a parade..
at least more exciting for most...
Jul 6th, 2006, 02:58 PM
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You can have a go from the comfort of your own chair here:
http://www.addictinggames.com/runningofthebulls.html
[click on "jugar" to enter and then "comenzar" to start]
Good luck!
Dr D.
http://www.addictinggames.com/runningofthebulls.html
[click on "jugar" to enter and then "comenzar" to start]
Good luck!
Dr D.
Jul 6th, 2006, 03:16 PM
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I see Lincasanova doesn't know where the "Spain is different" phrase came from 
It was a Spanish advertising campaign for tourism in the final 60's, and the "motto" was an idea of Manuel Fraga, who was the ambassador of Spain in London (that's why it is in English). And people began to say..."oh, yes, it's true...Spain is different " , they didn't tell why it was different , hahaha. It became popular as a criticism as you say, and this campaign never had an equivalent in Spanish, that's why everybody says it that way
It was a Spanish advertising campaign for tourism in the final 60's, and the "motto" was an idea of Manuel Fraga, who was the ambassador of Spain in London (that's why it is in English). And people began to say..."oh, yes, it's true...Spain is different " , they didn't tell why it was different , hahaha. It became popular as a criticism as you say, and this campaign never had an equivalent in Spanish, that's why everybody says it that way
Jul 6th, 2006, 03:21 PM
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hi kenderina.. i was here when that motto was going around. i didn't know that fraga had started the whole thing.. but now that you mention it.. it WAS the tourist campaign motto.. but it didn't take long to turn it into a self criticism!
good thing we can laugh at oursleves when times are disappointing!
you feeling better?
good thing we can laugh at oursleves when times are disappointing!
you feeling better?
Jul 7th, 2006, 07:24 AM
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I attended a feria in Souillac (in the Lot, SW France) in June of this year. It's a new event that it's said will be held annually. One of the features of the feria was a running of/with bulls. Not as romantic as the run in Pamplona, I expect, since in Souillac one runs along a course in a barred cattle pen. The run is perhaps one of three hundred meters.
Much to the horror of my lady wife, my sixteen year old son and I elected to run. The master of ceremonies seemed rather surprised to find foreigners amongst his runners and asked the crowd, over his megaphone, to extend a special welcome to the two Americans in the bunch.
It took only a few glances around to realize that perhaps I was in the wrong place. I'm six foot three, 220, and run five or ten K courses all the time, but virtually all of the other runners were thirty years younger than I (I'm 48), lithe, and built for speed. I'm not...I'm something of a plodder, long on stamina but short on speed. If anyone was going to get nailed first, for sure it would be me. My pride refused to let me leave the ring, however.
Moment of horror when they let the bulls out of their holding pen, and the things started towards me. Fear lent wings to my feet and I ran like hell, at the back of the pack, as I expected.
When I felt hot breath on my back and heard an animal snort that seemed to be an inch from my ear, I decided that I had held up the national honor quite enough and looked for a place to hide. There were little alcoves built into the track and into one I dove, and let the creatures thunder past. I had no idea until now how fast cattle can move...certainly faster than I can run!
A bull at the back of the pack veered my way, and it looked as if I might catch a horn in my gut...not a good end to the vacation! I instinctively lowered my hands to protect myself, not that it would have done a lot of good. But the bull caught the movement from the corner of his eye, started, and broke away. At that point I realized that the thing was probably more frightened that I. These creatures weren't exactly highly strung, top end Spanish fighting bulls.
Still, quite an experience...I'd recommend it! And for those who care, yes, three weeks later, my wife is in fact talking to me again.
Much to the horror of my lady wife, my sixteen year old son and I elected to run. The master of ceremonies seemed rather surprised to find foreigners amongst his runners and asked the crowd, over his megaphone, to extend a special welcome to the two Americans in the bunch.
It took only a few glances around to realize that perhaps I was in the wrong place. I'm six foot three, 220, and run five or ten K courses all the time, but virtually all of the other runners were thirty years younger than I (I'm 48), lithe, and built for speed. I'm not...I'm something of a plodder, long on stamina but short on speed. If anyone was going to get nailed first, for sure it would be me. My pride refused to let me leave the ring, however.
Moment of horror when they let the bulls out of their holding pen, and the things started towards me. Fear lent wings to my feet and I ran like hell, at the back of the pack, as I expected.
When I felt hot breath on my back and heard an animal snort that seemed to be an inch from my ear, I decided that I had held up the national honor quite enough and looked for a place to hide. There were little alcoves built into the track and into one I dove, and let the creatures thunder past. I had no idea until now how fast cattle can move...certainly faster than I can run!
A bull at the back of the pack veered my way, and it looked as if I might catch a horn in my gut...not a good end to the vacation! I instinctively lowered my hands to protect myself, not that it would have done a lot of good. But the bull caught the movement from the corner of his eye, started, and broke away. At that point I realized that the thing was probably more frightened that I. These creatures weren't exactly highly strung, top end Spanish fighting bulls.
Still, quite an experience...I'd recommend it! And for those who care, yes, three weeks later, my wife is in fact talking to me again.
Jul 7th, 2006, 07:58 AM
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jeffrey.. you are lucky to have survived.
aren't you glad nothing happened to you or your son?
how can you recommend this?
in all the villages of spain they have these bull evenings and i tell you.. there are home videos later they put on t.v. of all the accidents.
everyone should be obligated to watch a few hours of those before they take part in such a dangerous sport.
aren't you glad nothing happened to you or your son?
how can you recommend this?
in all the villages of spain they have these bull evenings and i tell you.. there are home videos later they put on t.v. of all the accidents.
everyone should be obligated to watch a few hours of those before they take part in such a dangerous sport.
Jul 7th, 2006, 08:00 AM
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Jeffrey: Yikes!
My FIL was a rodeo bull-fighter (hall of famer) and he says the math is simple: you have two legs and they have four. They run faster! You would have to run tight circles around them or jump over them like my father-in-law did in order to stay safe. He also says that getting thrown up into the air looks bad, but that getting pinned against a wall (and hit over and over again) is much worse. I take his word on that.
Glad you and your family are okay… presumably with a lesson learned!
My FIL was a rodeo bull-fighter (hall of famer) and he says the math is simple: you have two legs and they have four. They run faster! You would have to run tight circles around them or jump over them like my father-in-law did in order to stay safe. He also says that getting thrown up into the air looks bad, but that getting pinned against a wall (and hit over and over again) is much worse. I take his word on that.
Glad you and your family are okay… presumably with a lesson learned!
Jul 7th, 2006, 09:22 AM
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"how can you recommend this?"
<laughing> Same reason some people like to skydive, bungee jump, race cars, or rock climb. 'Cause it's FUN, it's a rush! Life means a whole lot more when you risk it a little. But honestly, the risk is fairly minimal...for everyone who gets hurt, tens of thousands don't. Kinda like driving to work in the morning rush hour.
I feel sorry for the young New Yorker...but hey, is it worse this way, or in a traffic accident? Sadly, injury happens every day...life's a crapshoot.
<grin> Rooting for the bulls, are you, Carrybean? You're a true humanitarian!TrophyWife, the only lesson the pair of us learned....was to run the inside track, not the outside. The bulls tend to the outside, so on the inside we're out of their way and have less ground to cover. We're game for next time!
<laughing> Same reason some people like to skydive, bungee jump, race cars, or rock climb. 'Cause it's FUN, it's a rush! Life means a whole lot more when you risk it a little. But honestly, the risk is fairly minimal...for everyone who gets hurt, tens of thousands don't. Kinda like driving to work in the morning rush hour.
I feel sorry for the young New Yorker...but hey, is it worse this way, or in a traffic accident? Sadly, injury happens every day...life's a crapshoot.
<grin> Rooting for the bulls, are you, Carrybean? You're a true humanitarian!TrophyWife, the only lesson the pair of us learned....was to run the inside track, not the outside. The bulls tend to the outside, so on the inside we're out of their way and have less ground to cover. We're game for next time!
Jul 7th, 2006, 09:22 AM
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I stand somewhat corrected. He was not running:
<i>Ducharme was injured in what is known as a vaquilla, in which hundreds of people chase five cows and pull their ears and tails in the bull ring where the runs end. The cows are much smaller than fighting bulls, and have smaller horns, but still weigh nearly a half-ton each.</i>
Still silly and still tragic -- IMHO.
<i>Ducharme was injured in what is known as a vaquilla, in which hundreds of people chase five cows and pull their ears and tails in the bull ring where the runs end. The cows are much smaller than fighting bulls, and have smaller horns, but still weigh nearly a half-ton each.</i>
Still silly and still tragic -- IMHO.
Jul 7th, 2006, 09:31 AM
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Early reports were that he was a spectactor sitting and watching a mock bullfight in a ring. The report was that he fell from the bleachers.
I assume we will learn more as time passes. In any case, all reports are that was during the festival but not during the run with the bulls in the streets.
I wonder what the injury reports for the bulls will be - if there are any.
I assume we will learn more as time passes. In any case, all reports are that was during the festival but not during the run with the bulls in the streets.
I wonder what the injury reports for the bulls will be - if there are any.
