There is something transcendently idiotic about running through the streets with a group of large, angry bovine. It's exactly what makes the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona so darn interesting to everyone from "Jackass" fans to Hemingway scholars.Today marked the opening day of the event and here are the stats so far: 13 injured, including two concussions, 10 people in need of treatment for cuts and bruises, one collapsed lung, one ruptured spleen and an undetermined number of broken ribs.
Any way you break those numbers down, no one was gored, so you've got to question the bulls' desire. Take a look at some of the pics from the festivities and let us know what you think.
Running with the Bulls
Revelers are chased by Conde de la Corte ranch fighting bulls on the first day of the running of the bulls during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on Monday, July 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
AP
Revelers chased by Conde de la Corte ranch fighting bulls, not seen, run on the first day of the running of the bulls during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, July 7, 2008. The 'Los San Fermines' festival, held since 1591, attracts tens of thousands of foreign visitors each year for nine days of revelry, morning bull-runs and afternoon bullfights. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
AP
PAMPLONA, SPAIN - JULY 07: Micky Loomey of New Zealand is attended to by members of the Red Cross after being injured during the first San Fermin running of the bulls on July 7, 2008 in Pamplona, Spain. Fighting bulls are run through the old part of Pamplona for eight days in this fiesta made famous by the 1926 Ernest Hemmingway novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PAMPLONA, SPAIN - JULY 07: A runner leads the pack of fighting bulls around a curve during the first San Fermin running of the bulls on July 7, 2008 in Pamplona, Spain. Fighting bulls are run through the old part of Pamplona for eight days in this fiesta made famous by the 1926 Ernest Hemmingway novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PAMPLONA, SPAIN - JULY 07: A fighting bull takes the curve during the first San Fermin running of the bulls on July 7, 2008 in Pamplona, Spain. Fighting bulls are run through the old part of Pamplona for eight days in this fiesta made famous by the 1926 Ernest Hemmingway novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Getty Images
A runner is attended to after being injured during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters
A runner is attended to after being injured during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters
Runners sprint next to Conde de la Corte fighting bulls during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters
A reveller is tossed by a heifer on the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters
Runners sprint in front of Conde de la Corte fighting bulls and steers during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 7, 2008. REUTERS/Joseba Etxaburu (SPAIN)
Reuters















Comments:
Add a comment
Thursday 10 July
By Gary Olszewski
People do plenty of stupid crazy things, like jumping out of airplanes with only a diaper & nylon string keeping them from from certain death, climbing impenatrable mountains, and so much more. But this so-called "sport" of trying to outrun crazed feral bovines takes the cake! The fact that it takes place in Spain, of all places, says it all about that culture, doesn't it? If I travel to a foreign country for "sport" It'll be the Bahamas for a marathon of laying on the beach with a margarita in hand, listening to Jimmy Buffet music! Anything more life-threatening then that, BITE ME!
Reply
Monday 14 July
By Dennis
One of my African American friends said to me, we let you white people do all the adventurous, exciting, and stupid stuff first so we can learn by example of what not to do.
1) Sky Diving
2) Scuba Diving
3) Running with Bulls!
haha
Reply