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San Fermin takes place from July 7th to the 14th, 8 days long. There is an encierro, or running of the bulls, each of the eight days. The encierros begin at 8 o clock, but no onw is permitted to enter the ring after 7:30.
San Fermin is in the city of Pamplona, Spain. The encierro takes place in four major stretches. One at the beginning of Santo Domingo Street, before the Estafeta curve, at the crossing of Estafeta-Bajada de Javier, and finally, at the end of Estafeta street.


You ask who would want to do this. Being chased by 1200 pound bulls that can run at 16 mph. The answer is men who need to prove themselves. For those men here are some tips.
If you're going to run in the encierro, remember: not a single of the advices you can get will guarantee your safety. If you've never run in the encierro before, try to get yourself some videos, talk to someone who has taken part in the encierro or read the experience of other runners. If, after doing all these things, you haven't changed your mind, here you are 20 tips that might help you:
1. If you're not really going to run, just don't go to the encierro: if you 're not really sure, you have better not to take part in the running. Your fears or your doubts can get you and other runners in serious trouble. Don't run to impress someone or to win a bet.
2. Better be in good shape:If it's too long ago that you saw your feet for the last time, because your stomach is so big that it does not let you do so, don't run. Running the encierro requires some athletic conditions.
3. Good conditions: If you haven't slept at all after a crazy night, then go to a bar, take some hot chocolate and watch the encierro on the television. Tiredness makes you slow and clumsy. 4. Don't run if you have drunk: If you're drunk, running it's simply suicidal. You're a hazard for you and the rest of the runners. Go home and take some rest.
5. Choose correct clothes: use sneakers or sport shoes, and don't wear clothes that may disturb you when running. Don't wear those enormous "txapelas" (Basque hats) or other kind of silly hats
6. Choose a stretch: you have 925 yards to choose from. Nobody can run the entire path. When you've made your choice, take a look at the ground you're running on. Beware of water on the ground, dirty places in bad conditions. Choose the stretch that fits you're capacities best.
7. Enter the path in good time: after 07:30 don't think that the police will let you get inside the path. So early in the morning, and with such a chaos, they're not very reasonable.
8. Don't bring any object with you: no backpacks, cameras, or other objects are allowed. Only someone with an obvious lack of love for his own life would dare to take pictures from inside the encierro. Don't wear sunglasses, your sight seeing gets reduced.
9. Don't stop: it's obvious, but there are those who only take part in the encierro as a spectator from inside (crazy!), or just to appear on TV and pictures (silly!). Doing such a thing is extremely dangerous; most of the runners injured by bulls were not running.
10. Don't underestimate the bull: it seems heavy (1200 pounds) and slow, not only is it faster than you, but also can be faster for a longer timer.
11. If you fall, stay down: if you fall in front of the bulls, stay down, don't move and protect your head with your hands. For the bulls you'll be just an obstacle and they'll jump over you. If you stand up in front of them, they'll simply make minced meat out of you.
12. Try not to run close to the walls: near the walls of the streets you're more vulnerable, especially in Santo Domingo street and Estafeta curve.
13. Be always alert: look around and always control the bulls (after and before you) and nearby runners too. Apart from you there are about 1800 to 3000 more runners. Anyone of them fallen before you can make you fall too. Remember: this is also an obstacle race where runners push each other.
14. Run before the bulls: when the bull-pack gets close to you, let them pass and run to one side. If you run behind them, they might turn, and you may cause havoc. For the same reason never touch the bulls.
15. Never try to catch bull's attention: you may cause serious trouble for yourself and the rest of the runners. If a bull stops, let the shepherds do their job, or you may get some stick beats.
16. Leave the run in good time: run before the bulls for a few seconds and get out of the middle before you start to get tired. Run no more than 45 or 55 yards, and have ready a point to leave. Think that you might get easily tired, but bulls don't.
17. In case of danger: run towards the fences, don't waste time jumping them, just throw yourself to the ground and roll below the fences. A bull needs only those 2 seconds you waste jumping the fences to print its signature on your body.
18. The encierro ends when the fourth rocket explodes: although you see the bulls passing, be alert, behind these ones there could come more. Watch your six!
19. Once in the Bullring: get out of the middle, let the "dobladores" (guiders) do their job, and run to the fences. In the middle of the bullring, you're an easy prey for the bull.

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