HOW TO RUN

If you´re stilling reading this then it means you are probably a potential runner, hooked on the excitment of the idea of doing a run.

This totally chaotic event has its particular norms and rules of behaviour despite the fact that it seems something wild and out of control. There are certain facts to keep in mind before you go in at the deep end on your first run. Here are some practical hints to help you come out the other end safe and well.

The daunting step of entering the Arena is not just a question of jumping over the fence at any old place along the route. You should look for an official "gate" either in the square at the Town Hall or in the square of the Mercado. The streets where the running takes place are cleared of people during the final hour before the start of the run. The local municipal police are responsible for this task and they won´t have much tolerance for anyone climbing over the fence any old way. Look for a proper entrance point. (A piece of useful information: be careful, by this time the local police is not in the mood for jokes).

Making the run on a drunken spree is totally out of order: It´s just plain stupid and a danger both to yourself as well as to others.

Be aware of what's going on around you: When you are running keep a constant eye on the distance between you and the bulls. They´ll be up your ass before you know it. At the same time, Be aware of the runners in front of you, particularily fallen runners who can easily trip you up. Look for the place where you plan to pull out of the run. It´s all quite hectic and complicated in a very short space of time.

Don't try to catch the bulls' attention. This is highly dangerous. In theory, the bulls don´t want to tangle with anyone. They just want to get out of that tight enclosed route as quick as possible. If they are not distracted by anything, they will follow a straight path all the way to their bullpen. But if you distract one of them, and it gets separated from the group, things could get deadly serious and come to a bad end. Bad for you, maybe, but also bad for the other runners.

Making any stupid attempt to catch the bull’s attention tends to rouse the anger of the other runners so that, even if the bull doesn´t take any notice of you, it´s likely that the other runners will, and you could end up being a punching bag for the irate runners. It´s not that we want to condone violence in any way, but in this case their violent response is more than understandable. That kind of stupid behaviour could cost the life of somebody.

Should you trip up on the run-Stay down. A trip-up is more than likely to happen - for a number of reasons. As we have said, the bulls don´t particularly want to tangle with anyone. If a bull sees a fallen lump in front of him, he´s likely to step on it and keep going. And his other five mates will do the same and that´s that. You´ll probably come out with a few heavy bruises, but nothing more serious than that. But, if you try to get up or move straight away, this could cause the bull to take notice of you. Even worse, maybe you get up right in the path of the running bull, and he could go through you as clean as a knife cuts thorough butter. This, in fact, is what happened to the last fatality in the 1995 run.

So, should you have the misfortune to fall or trip up, stay down hugging the ground without moving except to cover your head with your hands. When the stampede has passed, someone will give up a tap on the shoulder to let you know you can get up in safety.

Don't try to run behind the bulls. A lot of people seem to want to keep running even after the bulls have passed them out. The only thing that can serve, is to possibly distract a bull who might notice any movement behind him and create the risk of his turning round.

Don't attempt to touch the bulls. A lot of people seem to want to touch the bulls for some strange reason. They shouldn´t be touched even in the slightest way, as there is another potential risk in distracting their attention.

Don't stand still during the run. When everyone starts running, you must run too. If not, you could cause others to fall or trip up against you. If you want to be a spectator, stay on the other side of the fence. The only reason you cross over that fence is to run.

Fan out when you run into the ring. Spread out when you get through the entrance to the ring and head for the barriers round the edge of the ring. In this way you will keep the space clear for the drovers to do their work of sidling the bulls into the pen. Should you find yourself in the middle of the ring, you are in the path of the bulls who can move much faster than you and you are in a totally defenceless situation, as well as being a disturbance to the drovers in their work.

Don't disturb the drovers and herders. These people are responsible for getting the bulls into the bullpen as quickly as possible. The quicker they do it, the less danger there is. And it´s also worth nothing that the herders tend to carry long thin rods and a swipe from one of those could hurt more than the bruise from a bull stepping on you.

Don't carry anything on you when you run. If you can´t find a safe place to leave down your pack, video camera or whatever, then just forget about the idea of doing the run.

IT'S FORBIDDEN

Apart from all these tips, the Council of Pamplona expressly forbids:

1.- To admit anyone under the age of 18 into the course as minors are totally prohibited from running or participating.

2.- To go over the police barriers which the authorities see fit to erect.

3.- To place oneself in the zones and areas of the itinerary which are expressly reserved by the agents of the authorities.

4.- To hide oneself before the release of the bulls in corners, dead angles or doorways of houses or establishments located throughout the length of the course.

5.- To leave open the doors of the houses along the course, the owners or tenants of the said property being responsible for this.

6.- To enter into the route in a state of drunkenness, under the effects of drugs or in any inappropriate state.

7.- To carry objects which may impede the correct running of the Bull Run.

8.- To wear clothes or shoes which are not appropriate for the run.

9.- Call the animals or distract them in any way and for whatever reason in the course or during the rounding up in the Bull Ring.

10.- To run at the bulls or to run behind the bulls.

11.- To touch, to harass or mistreat the bulls and to obstruct their path by any kind of action during the exit and entrance of the release of the young bulls in the bullring.

12.- To stop in the Bull Run or station oneself on the walls or barriers or in the doorways in such a way as to impede the run or the defence of the runners.

13.- To take snapshots from inside the route or from the fencing or barriers.

14.- To carry troublesome paraphernalia that could upset the proper execution of the running of the bulls.

15.- To install any kind of equipment that invades the horizontal, vertical or special area of the bull-running, except by express permission of the City Hall.

16.- Any other kind of occurrence that could hinder the normal functioning of the running of the bulls.

Furthermore, in the event that any of the animals suffers an accident, or, for whatever other reason, any of them "looses" themselves or remains "unattached" to the herd, the runners should listen to the instructions of the technical personnel on hand during the running of the Bull Run.

The runners should place themselves in the stretch between the Plaza Consistorial and the Military Hospital on the Santo Domingo rise. Access to the said stretch is gained through the existing doors in the Plaza del Mercado and the Plaza Consistorial (next to the Seminary) which are closed at 7.30 a.m.

On arriving at the Bull Ring all the runners should place themselves as soon as possible inside the walled off section so that this can be freed for the shelter of others. For this reason the space between the walls is reserved exclusively for authorised personnel.

So, now you should be somewhat better prepared to do the run. Do you still fancy the idea ? Or does it all sound too complicated ? Remember that all this advice is just to make sure you are not going to be a disturbance to the other runners or indeed to the bulls during the run.

And the last piece of advice is simply to remember the fact that the runners are taking their life in their hands when they run. Should you put their lives in danger through some stupidity of yours, then you are only going to give yourself problems.