THE BULLRUN - A QUICK SUMMARY

The bull run (encierro) is the most well known part of the Pamplona Fiesta, and it is one of the reasons why thousands of people keep going back to the fiesta year after year. Basically, it consists of running along certain stretches of the streets which have been previously walled off, and the aim of which is to run with the bulls as they steam their way from the Santo Domingo corrals to the Bull Ring where, later that afternoon, they will be fought. A total of six bulls are "run" as well as approximately twelve tame bulls (steers) which are there to keep the bulls together and allow them to be ‘herded at’ speed through the streets. The route, which runs through different streets of the old city centre, measures 825 metres in total.

The run takes place every morning between the 7th and 14th of July, it begins at 8.00 a.m., although the runners will have entered the run much earlier, generally you have to get into the course before 7.30. A few minutes before the race is due to begin many of the young men who will make the run (and quite a few old fuckers like myself) entrust themselves to San Fermín and sing three times to a figure of the Saint surrounded by the badges of the peñas which is located in a hole in the wall on the Cuesta de Santo Domingo . The song goes like this: "We ask San Fermín, as our Patron, to guide us through the Bull Run and give us his blessing."

At eight o'clock exactly the first rocket is launched announcing the opening of the gates of the small corrals' of Santo Domingo, while the firing of the second indicates that all the bulls have left. From then on the animals run along the following course: they go up Santo Domingo and cross the Town Hall Square in order to run down the Calle Mercaderes. A tight bend to the right leads into the Calle Estafeta, the longest part of the route (303 metres) which is followed by a small part of the Calle Duque de Ahumada, also known as the Telefónica stretch, which gives access to the tunnel which leads to the Bull Ring. Once all the bulls have entered the Bull Ring a third rocket goes up while the fourth rocket indicates that the bulls have gone into the bullpens at the far side of the bullring and the run is over.

The run lasts for three minutes on average, or longer if any of the bulls should get separated from its mates. Although all the stretches are dangerous, the curve of the Calle Mercaderes (…always take this turn on the right NOT THE LEFT ) and the stretch between the Calle Estafeta and the Bull Ring are those which hold the most risk ( this is the official Town Council view, although opinions differ on this point). The picture below was taken in the tunnel this is one place you don’t want to be in with the bulls.

All sections of the route are looked over by a large number of police and first aid assistants. However, the danger of the run has meant that between 1924 and 2000 14 people have died and more than 200 have been seriously injured by the bulls. At present overcrowding is one of the main problems of the Bull Run and this has increased the danger and risk of injury. The official Town Council recommendation is that "the youths should not try to hold out for more than 50 metres before the bulls" which I would consider to be a very sound bit of advice.