Brave Spaniards Hit The Streets For The Running Of The Bulls

By Michael Lopez

Forget triathlons, if you really want to get your heart racing you should head to Pamplona, Spain. Yesterday, hundreds of locals and tourists partook in the annual "running of the bulls," which thankfully led to only a few bumps and bruises. Pamplona hosts bull runs for eight days every July.

Thrill-seekers from all over the world threw on their white outfits and sprinting shoes for the adrenaline-pumping ritual. When interviewing participants, Fox News Latino even wrangled up some Californians who flew out for the festivities.

"Anything we heard before doesn't even compare to what really happened," said West Coast local Allison Byrne. "It was hard to watch that knowing that our husbands are down there. It was exciting and exhilarating, but I'll never do [this] again. I'm still shaking."

Alison actually had a good reason to be nervous. Four people had to be rushed to the hospital after being poked by speeding steer horns. But that pales in comparison to the damage that has happened in previous years. Back in 2009, a Spanish local was killed after being gored in the streets.

Believe it or not, the running of the bulls has been an ongoing tradition for nearly 400 years. The concept is simple; outrun a stampede of toros across a 928-yard stretch. Certain brave participants even integrate the color red into their wardrobe to make the chase that much more dangerous.

Not surprisingly, some groups are not huge fans of the bull runs. Though the pastime isn't considered as inhumane as bullfighting, there are questions about how the animals are treated before they're released from their pens.

One of the steers from yesterday's run seemed to suffer a serious injury, leading it to collapse in the middle of the street. But you'll have a hard time convincing the city of Pamplona to stop its lucrative pastime. It is reported that nearly one million tourists descend on the city for the event. Let’s just hope they all get to leave in one piece!

Would you ever want to try running with the bulls? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Peta, Running Of The Bulls, Spain