There are six fighting bulls and six steers, all of which are released at the same time and in theory complete the course together. There are also three rather large Oxen (up to 1000 kilo) used to bring in any stay bull that may remain on the course, which can be very dangerous for runners who do not count the bulls as they pass.
Few bulls obtain 1500 lbs in weight (682 kilos), but there are some bulls of the Muria breed, Spain’s largest fighting bulls, that have approached that mass. The most aggressive and often most dangerous animals are closer to 1100 lbs and can react in an instant when necessary.
The average time for the course is just over 3 minutes, with the quickest bull covering the route in 1:59 a couple of years ago, goring three runners along the way, the last one in the bullring. The final bull to enter the bullring that day trailed the leader by nearly one full minute, which is a long time when you don't know where that final animal is.
There is frequently more danger the novice runners, some sober, some not, then from the fighting bulls, but a bull can and will kill if you happen to draw his attention, something the experience runners tries to avoid as he runs with the bulls.
Please note that the fighting bull is not bred to kill but bred for its natural aggressiveness. It can and will kill any animal it faces, man being the lone exception, most of the time.
The first encierro, the running of the bulls, begins at 8:00, the morning of the 7th. You can expect the crowd to number close to 4000 on the first day, 95% of which have no idea of what they are doing out there. The police try to control the situation, removing those too drunk to stand, but it’s generally the first timers, the novices, who make a mistake, causing someone else to be injured, sometimes seriously.
It’s not an overly dangerous sport, but it is the only one in which the other side (the fighting bulls) have all of the advantages. You’re there simply for the adrenalin rush and it’s like nothing else if done properly.
encierro
