re: The Running Of The Bulls

I could handle that. How many people get killed each year?

I did it this year.

It was awesome - biggest rush I've ever had outside of military stuff.

It is certainly not for the weak of heart, though.

TV and pictures just do not do the intensity of the experience justice. My group watched from a gallery on the first day we were there, and two people got pretty fricked up right in front of us. Blood was all over the streets, and one guy wasn't moving and had to be taken away in an ambulance. That was actually a bit intimidating.

For the actual run I wouldn't do it unless you're a fit person with some speed, agility, and strength. Without sounding sexist, I would not recommend it for most women.

Those animals are much bigger and much faster than you think. Also, that course is a lot steeper (uphill) than it looks on TV. I unintentionally had a pretty close call after one of the bulls tripped and got separated from the herd - didn't see him until the very last second and managed to avoid him by a few inches.

I felt like a gladiator who had just won a fight when I got to the arena. That was an underrated part of it.

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826 meters

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My buddy is in Europe and just did it the other day. Said the whole run took maybe 2 minutes.

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So, he's like a 4 minute miler? shite, that's damn impressive.

I've done it as well. This is a pretty good summary of the experience. The rush is real.

I'd add that the cobble stone streets were wet from the street cleaning machines that roll through each morning to clean up the bourbon street type drinking on the route the night before.

Combine the wet uphill run on cobble stone streets with people who haven't slept much and may/or may not still be drunk from the night before... that's where you get a lot injuries. (people biting it on the concrete). Wear some decent shoes.

Tips: Walk the course before the run to learn the route and exits.. remember the animals take the corners wide.. so the safest place to get out is the inside of the turn..

I started the run at the very beginning of the course so I didn't make it into the arena. They catch up to you pretty quickly. As AbuTheMonkey said.. be careful for straggler bulls.. Those are the ones that do serious damage. (scared the shite out of me because I thought they had all passed)

Friend of a friend died there a while back, but he fell off of a high wall during the festival and not the actual running.