the wandering chick
...Running with the Bulls
Cave Creek, Arizona

It's patterned after the Pamplona, Spain, Running of the Bulls, but on a much, much smaller - and slightly less exciting - scale. This day's runs resulted in zero injuries, a statistic the sponsors were most proud and thankful for.

Twelve bulls and probably a hundred runners took to the 1/4-mile course. Unlike Pamplona, the tips of the horns on these bulls had been chopped and sanded down to prevent true goring. Still, bulls are bulls...and with 1500 pounds each chasing on the heels of the runners, you can believe it kept their adrenaline flowing, and the spectators cheering.

It was a full day of activities in Cave Creek with bull runs on the hour throughout the day. In between the runs were other events such as Native American dance performances, bull-riding and an American-style bull fight. Of course, there was food and drinks and also a mechanical bull. A few boutique booths were also on the grounds offering mostly western clothing and jewelry.

bull charger
bull charger
Meet some of the chargers...
bull charger
bull charger
bull charger
bull charger
...and meet some of the charged:
bull charger
bull charger
bull charger
runners
bull runners
bull runners
bull runners
It looks from the picture on the left that this runner could have gotten involuntarily "booted" out of the race. Either that, or he felt the bulls were getting a little too close. You think????
bull runners
bull runners
Hello!!Does this guy even know he's got a couple of 1500 pounders on his tail? I don't think I'd be looking quite so ... blissful.
bull runners
bull runners
Some decided to just bail out while they could.
runners' attire
There was some great attire.
runners' attire
runners' attire
runners' attire
runners looking at pictures taken of themselves
runners' attire
runners looking at pictures of themselves
These two runners were pretty excited about pictures of themselves taken of the run.
a young mechanical bull rider
Kids of all ages were trying out the mechanical bull they had on the grounds.
Native American dance performance
Native American dance performance
Native American dance performance
Native American dance performance
Native Americans performed impressive dances in dress that was just as impressive.
rodeo performance
They called it American-style bull fighting...not sure what that meant. But at least the bull wasn't killed and dragged off as they do in Spain.
bull fight performance
bull fight performance
bull fight performance
bull fight performance
horseman waits for danger
bull rider hangs in for 8 seconds
A horseman waits in the wings while a bull ridesr (right and below) try to hang in for the required eight seconds.
bull riders

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