Running of the bulls

[UCFWayne]

Id never run with the bulls but would be on the outside rooting for them to do something like this.

http://gawker.com/american-student-learns-the-downside-of-running-with-th-1685993569/+barryap

 

[KnightedIbis]

I was clenching my ass the entire time I read that.

 

[Game_Day_Sports]

and the comments did not disappoint.

 

[chemmie]

Dumbass.
If there is ever a suelto, a bull that gets away from the herd, you get the hell away and let the pros handle it.
That's Rule #2 of an encierro.

I'm going for my second Sanfermin Fiesta this summer in Pamplona. Can't wait.

 

[UCFKnight85]

Sorry chemmie, but being able to run is a requirement to participate.

 

[Bob the Citronaut]

Waddling with the bulls.

 

[HuffyCane]

Originally posted by chemmie:
Dumbass.
If there is ever a suelto, a bull that gets away from the herd, you get the hell away and let the pros handle it.
That's Rule #2 of an encierro.

I'm going for my second Sanfermin Fiesta this summer in Pamplona. Can't wait.

I wonder if you've ever actually run. First of all, its San Fermin. Second, plenty of people take a few steps, jump out of the way into a doorway, and say they "ran with the bulls." I'm inclined to think you fit into that category and not because of what others say about your body size. I've been in some stressful situations in my life. Ive been shot at several times, head on collisions in automobiles, etc. I rode rough stock rodeo for years. None of those experiences sit in mind like the experience of looking up Estefeta.

If you start in the clear and the middle, look back and see what is coming, hold fast until the crowd breaks and then start to run until you are overtaken, touch if you are so inclined but don't badger the animals as they pass and end up on your feet in the arena, then you've run with the bulls. If you've done that, then you would be praying for the kid and respecting his willingness to get out there, not jumping to the conclusion that he made a poor decision.

Watch the video. Its a straggler, not a true suelto . The runner gets caught in the middle and can't get out of the way. Once he is taken down, the bull does what it is trained to do. Fight. Yes, the runner was likely overwhelmed and inexperienced, but I wouldn't call him a dumbass. And Im sure there were plenty in this race. The kid who died and was brought back two years ago when he stopped to film it on his illegal go pro is a dumbass.

I've run twice. The second time, I wrote my passport number and blood type on my arm in magic marker. Yes, I intentionally purchased underwear I wouldn't mind the civilized world seeing. I wasn't hurt. I have mad respect for anyone who truly joins the club and I think most aficionados would agree with that statement. And I don't think those folks would think he was a dumbass.

This post was edited on 2/16 6:32 PM by HuffyCane

Pray for the kid

 

[chemmie]

Originally posted by HuffyCane:

Originally posted by chemmie:
Dumbass.
If there is ever a suelto, a bull that gets away from the herd, you get the hell away and let the pros handle it.
That's Rule #2 of an encierro.

I'm going for my second Sanfermin Fiesta this summer in Pamplona. Can't wait.

I wonder if you've ever actually run. First of all, its San Fermin. Second, plenty of people take a few steps, jump out of the way into a doorway, and say they "ran with the bulls." I'm inclined to think you fit into that category and not because of what others say about your body size. I've been in some stressful situations in my life. Ive been shot at several times, head on collisions in automobiles, etc. I rode rough stock rodeo for years. None of those experiences sit in mind like the experience of looking up Estefeta.

If you start in the clear and the middle, look back and see what is coming, hold fast until the crowd breaks and then start to run until you are overtaken, touch if you are so inclined but don't badger the animals as they pass and end up on your feet in the arena, then you've run with the bulls. If you've done that, then you would be praying for the kid and respecting his willingness to get out there, not jumping to the conclusion that he made a poor decision.

Watch the video. Its a straggler, not a true suelto . The runner gets caught in the middle and can't get out of the way. Once he is taken down, the bull does what it is trained to do. Fight. Yes, the runner was likely overwhelmed and inexperienced, but I wouldn't call him a dumbass. And Im sure there were plenty in this race. The kid who died and was brought back two years ago when he stopped to film it on his illegal go pro is a dumbass.

I've run twice. The second time, I wrote my passport number and blood type on my arm in magic marker. Yes, I intentionally purchased underwear I wouldn't mind the civilized world seeing. I wasn't hurt. I have mad respect for anyone who truly joins the club and I think most aficionados would agree with that statement. And I don't think those folks would think he was a dumbass.

This post was edited on 2/16 6:32 PM by HuffyCane

Oooohhhh... are we having a dick measuring contest?

I ran at ayuntamiento. It is pretty much the safest place. It is wide, the bulls are running fast in their pack, and little chance of a suelto.
99.9% of the people who run just take a few steps and duck out. I'm sure that's what you did, too. I found a video where I could see myself on Youtube. Honestly, after it happens, you think you did great and ran a while. Your heart is pumping and the adrenalin is still flowing. Then you look at a video of yourself and laugh, because you ducked out.
So, to go along with the jokes above, I didn't really run with the bulls. I just got the hell out of the way of the bulls. But it was still f*cking awesome and I can't wait to do it again.

I didn't watch the video. I don't want to watch the video. My comment was based on the assumption that a 20 year old American was hanging around a suelto.

Last year in Pamplona, an American was gored. This was all over the news, because the guy had written a book about how to run with the bulls, and was very experienced. I watched that video, and the only reason he was gored was because there was some idiot hanging around near a suelto, and when he tried to run the idiot tripped him (not purposely.) As I said, if there is a suelto, get the hell out of the way and let the pros handle it.

 

[HuffyCane]

Originally posted by chemmie:

Originally posted by HuffyCane:

Originally posted by chemmie:
Dumbass.
If there is ever a suelto, a bull that gets away from the herd, you get the hell away and let the pros handle it.
That's Rule #2 of an encierro.

I'm going for my second Sanfermin Fiesta this summer in Pamplona. Can't wait.

I wonder if you've ever actually run. First of all, its San Fermin. Second, plenty of people take a few steps, jump out of the way into a doorway, and say they "ran with the bulls." I'm inclined to think you fit into that category and not because of what others say about your body size. I've been in some stressful situations in my life. Ive been shot at several times, head on collisions in automobiles, etc. I rode rough stock rodeo for years. None of those experiences sit in mind like the experience of looking up Estefeta.

If you start in the clear and the middle, look back and see what is coming, hold fast until the crowd breaks and then start to run until you are overtaken, touch if you are so inclined but don't badger the animals as they pass and end up on your feet in the arena, then you've run with the bulls. If you've done that, then you would be praying for the kid and respecting his willingness to get out there, not jumping to the conclusion that he made a poor decision.

Watch the video. Its a straggler, not a true suelto . The runner gets caught in the middle and can't get out of the way. Once he is taken down, the bull does what it is trained to do. Fight. Yes, the runner was likely overwhelmed and inexperienced, but I wouldn't call him a dumbass. And Im sure there were plenty in this race. The kid who died and was brought back two years ago when he stopped to film it on his illegal go pro is a dumbass.

I've run twice. The second time, I wrote my passport number and blood type on my arm in magic marker. Yes, I intentionally purchased underwear I wouldn't mind the civilized world seeing. I wasn't hurt. I have mad respect for anyone who truly joins the club and I think most aficionados would agree with that statement. And I don't think those folks would think he was a dumbass.

This post was edited on 2/16 6:32 PM by HuffyCane

Oooohhhh... are we having a dick measuring contest?

I ran at ayuntamiento. It is pretty much the safest place. It is wide, the bulls are running fast in their pack, and little chance of a suelto.
99.9% of the people who run just take a few steps and duck out. I'm sure that's what you did, too. I found a video where I could see myself on Youtube. Honestly, after it happens, you think you did great and ran a while. Your heart is pumping and the adrenalin is still flowing. Then you look at a video of yourself and laugh, because you ducked out.
So, to go along with the jokes above, I didn't really run with the bulls. I just got the hell out of the way of the bulls. But it was still f*cking awesome and I can't wait to do it again.

I didn't watch the video. I don't want to watch the video. My comment was based on the assumption that a 20 year old American was hanging around a suelto.

Last year in Pamplona, an American was gored. This was all over the news, because the guy had written a book about how to run with the bulls, and was very experienced. I watched that video, and the only reason he was gored was because there was some idiot hanging around near a suelto, and when he tried to run the idiot tripped him (not purposely.) As I said, if there is a suelto, get the hell out of the way and let the pros handle it.

Ha, tough guy, you were the one who started the measuring with your "dumbass" comment without even knowing, just assuming what happened to elevate yourself over that poor kid. Sorry you got called out on it. You do get props for admitting you stood in the street and didnt actually run though.

I've lined up at the plaza as well, and like you, took a few steps and ducked into the crowd. I didnt know what I was doing, I was caught by surprise when the bulls appeared, and I was with my girlfriend who would have gone effing crazy if I got hurt and ruined her vacation. This was back in the early 90s before the tourist hordes lined up there. We choose that location because thats where the locals said most foreigners line up and we had heard that's where celebrities run. As you are probably aware, it is isn't unusual to see movie stars there. We saw Sam Elliot last time I went.

The second time I went was two years ago. My friends decided to chose the day when the most dangerous breed of bull was scheduled. Forgive me, I don't remember the breed or the ranch. We hired a guy to guide us and give us tips. We lined up just past Telefonica because I rode rodeo and I wanted a fence line I could drop and roll under. The guide told us how long to hold, then it was every man for himself, as I know you can picture. My friends and I made it about 30 or 40 feet with the lead bull through the square and turn, as the first set of 4 came through. I slowed and was about half way down the callejon (the ramp into the stadium) when the next group passed because I didnt want to get caught in the entrance with the bulls. Because the group was spread out, I probably made it between 50 to 70 meters total. The scariest part of the whole thing was being exposed on the narrow ramp and not knowing when the next group was coming through and whether it was going to steamroll you. All told, probably 15 to 20 seconds of danger than seemed like 10 minutes. Those guys that run in the tunnel or stop and stand at the arena gate are maniacs.

I'm never doing it again ... and Im never going to say a word about anyone who gets out there and tries to do it right. From I've seen, the kid was just unprepared and unlucky.


This post was edited on 2/17 10:42 AM by HuffyCane

 

[btbones]

I am normally team Huffy and this is not really my business but the Huffmeiser made some assumptions based solely on his water cooler knowledge of Chemmie. I saw pictures etc of his experience and he did more than I would have I promise you. Chemmie sucks at a lot of things but travel and leisure damn sure isn't one of them

 

[HuffyCane]

Brian Williams had pictures of his helicopter shot up too.


This post was edited on 2/17 10:52 AM by HuffyCane

 

[chemmie]

I won't try to hide that I ducked out of the way. As I said, 99.9% of the people there are doing that. The bulls are bigger than you think, faster than you think, more muscular than you think, and louder than you think. I can still hear the rumble from the time they went by. Even though Ayuntamiento is the widest and easiest stretch, the bulls are at their fastest and are usually still together in an awesome herd at this point.

BUT, I really thought I had a little run.

I really remember the two seconds where I'm standing in the road, knowing what is heading towards me. A few people are already running by... more people are running by... more... then I take off, and I look to my right and there is a monster running about 4 feet from me. I move to the side and the pack comes by like a NASCAR race.

...watching myself on video wasn't that impressive. Oh well. My friends, and now you, have a good laugh at my expense but I'll never forget it.

I get to do it all over again this July. I will likely do Ayuntamiento again. But, there is a part of me that wants to follow the cows into the ring after the encierro, to chase around the vacas. That is the good fun, and much less dangerous!

My parents are going to be with me, too. They'll be watching from in the ring.

 

[chemmie]

You ran two years ago?

2012 or 2013?

I was July 13, 2012.
I'm in this video...somewhere.

 

[HuffyCane]

If you can stomach Telefonica and you plan a short run again, then I would recommend making the ramp and the arena a goal.

First off, they sell video tape of it now and you are likely to get a good shot of your group going down the ramp and then into the arena, so long as you are within about 200 yards of the bulls. Its an amazing souvenir if you are lucky.

The running of the cows is fun and much less dangerous, but you can still get kicked in the head. The problem with that was that once you are in, you aren't getting out for awhile, especially if there are big crowds. There are places to escape, but runners take them up watching the spectacle and you can't get out.

The result is that you run around the arena in this herd avoiding the cows for about 20 minutes. Fun for awhile, but it gets tiring. After about 15 minutes, you start to figure out what it is like for a gazelle on Wild Kingdom.

 

[HuffyCane]

Some nice gorings, if you are into that sort of thing ...

This is the day we actually ran

 

[HuffyCane]

And this is the day we planned to run from Telefonica, but my friends moved it up so they could brag they ran with the meanest bulls that year ....

Holy chit!!!!!!!!

 

[chemmie]

Originally posted by HuffyCane:
If you can stomach Telefonica and you plan a short run again, then I would recommend making the ramp and the arena a goal.

First off, they sell video tape of it now and you are likely to get a good shot of your group going down the ramp and then into the arena, so long as you are within about 200 yards of the bulls. Its an amazing souvenir if you are lucky.

The running of the cows is fun and much less dangerous, but you can still get kicked in the head. The problem with that was that once you are in, you aren't getting out for awhile, especially if there are big crowds. There are places to escape, but runners take them up watching the spectacle and you can't get out.

The result is that you run around the arena in this herd avoiding the cows for about 20 minutes. Fun for awhile, but it gets tiring. After about 15 minutes, you start to figure out what it is like for a gazelle on Wild Kingdom.

No way am I running the ramp. A friend of mine slipped and fell there in 2013 and broke his leg. I would rather keep my danger to a minimum.

I'll likely just sit at Cafe Iruna all morning sipping coffee with churros and chocolate after the encierro, waiting for my wife and parents to finish watching the vacas in the ring.