spain_running

The opening ceremony of the San Fermin festival, Pamplona City Hall, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2003.

Bull chases crowd during traditional running of the bulls in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, July 7, 2003.

People try to keep clear of fighting bulls and steers during an early morning bull run through the cobbled streets in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, July 7, 2003. The festival, made famous by U.S. author Ernest Hemingway, attracts thousands of people from all over the world.

A fighting bull slips and falls in front of runners during an early morning bull run through the cobbled streets in Pamplona, northern Spain, Monday, July 7, 2003.

People run with a fighting bull during the second day of the San Fermin 2003 bull run through the streets in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2003. The fiesta, famed for its all-night street parties, dates back to the late 16th century but gained world fame from Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises."

Runners try to keep clear as a fighting bull stumbles during the second day of the San Fermin 2003 bull run through the streets in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2003. Two of the six fighting bulls, running along with six steers, became separated from the pack early in the 900-yard run, about the most dangerous thing that can happen at San Fermin.

A fighting bull charges against two runners during the second day of San Fermin's 2003 bull run through the streets in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2003. The festival attracts thousands of people from all over the world. The man on left was gored in the arm.

A runner is pinned to the ground after being gored by a fighting bull during the second day of the San Fermin 2003 bull run through the streets in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday July 8, 2003. Since record-keeping began in 1924, 13 people have been killed at the San Fermin festival. The last fatality was a 22-year-old American, gored to death in 1995.

U.S. bull runner Al Chesson, 57, from Pittsburgh, Pa., is attended to by emergency workers after being gored by a fighting bull twice in the right thigh and once in the groin during the second running of the bulls in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2003. His injuries were not life threatening.

U.S. bull runner Dallas Hatchcock, 24, from Los Angeles is taken away on a stretcher after being gored in the left arm by a fighting bull during the second day of the running of the bulls in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2003. His injuries were not life threatening.

Bull runners reach out to touch fighting bulls during the second running of the bulls in Pamplona, northern Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2003. The bulls spun around often and charged at runners, sending them scurrying for safety.

A pack of fighting bulls and some steers charge through the street during the third day's San Fermin 2003 bullrun in Pamplona, northern Spain, Wednesday, July 9, 2003. The festival attracts thousands of people from all over the world.

Bull runners scramble for cover as a pack of fighting bulls and steers charge through the streets during the daily running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, Thursday, July 10, 2003.

Two bull runners are trampled by part of a pack of fighting bulls from the Jandilla ranch as they charge through the streets during the daily running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, Thursday, July 10, 2003.

A bullrunner is trampled as others fall and scramble to get out of the way during the daily running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, Thursday, July 10, 2003.

A bull runner falls in front of a pack of bulls from the Jandilla ranch during the daily running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain Thursday, July 10, 2003. The week-long festival, involves running with fighting bulls through the streets in the early morning, bullfights in the afternoon and around-the-clock partying.

Bullrunners scramble to get out of the way as a bull from the Aldolfo Martin Andres ranch falls during the daily running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, Friday, July 11, 2003. Eight Spaniards suffered bumps and bruises Friday on the fifth day of the running of the bulls, officials said.

A bullrunner dives for cover as another runs with a bull from the Aldolfo Martin Andres ranch as they enter the bullring during the daily running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, Friday, July 11, 2003. More than 1 million people are expected to visit Pamplona during the eight-day festival, which ends Monday.

A bull runner is caught between two fighting bulls from the Adolfo Martin Andres ranch as they charge through the streets during the daily running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, Friday, July 11, 2003. The centuries-old festival, which features a nonstop street party, became internationally famous following the 1926 publication of Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Sun Also Rises."

For over six centuries now, the Spanish have held gala festivals involving bulls, dancing and voluminous consumption of red wine. Pamplona, a small town in the northern part of Spain, hosts the wildest and most famous of all these festivals - La Fiesta De San Fermin. Running bulls through the town began as simply the easiest way to get them to the ring for bullfights, but eventually daredevils started running in front of them.