Tuesday, February 10, 2009

How to Run with the Bulls - Part 4

Now that the rocket has sounded, you know the bulls are coming. Now is the time to put your strategy in motion. There is an immediate rush in the crowd - either down the street or towards the walls and fences. If you are too close to the fences at the start, you will get caught in the crowd.

As the bulls run faster than the people, the biggest challenge to the run is the crowd and not the bulls. If you wait and try to run once the bulls are in sight, then you will miss them as they run past you so fast, it is all over before you know what just happened!

The suggestion is to lane run. To do this, start in the middle of the street near where you want to run with the bulls. Then, when the rocket goes off, start to run, keeping yourself in a lane near the middle of the street. The bulls will eventually catch you and, as they come upon you, move to one side to allow them to pass. As they go past you, increase your speed as best you can with the crowd to run 'with' the bulls for as long as possible.

If you get knocked down or fall down in the crowd - DO NOT GET UP. Stay down and cover your head. Bulls have very poor eyesight and will mostly watch the ground ahead of them. They do this to keep from stepping on something they do not recognize so they will not fall down. This is, of course, a general statement and not always true.

When the bulls encounter people that have fallen and are laying on the street, they will generally jump over them as they will not risk falling by stepping on something that is not familiar. Once the bulls pass, someone will come along and let you know that it is now safe to get up. Again, if you fall down, stay down and cover your head. This way is safest and you will live to run another day.

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