Running of the Bulls: American style

Virginia hosts first event of its kind in the United States

Runners clear out in front of the bulls during The Great Bull Run event at the Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Va., on Saturday. Similar events are planned elsewhere.

DINWIDDIE, Va. — Thousands paid to run Saturday as bull-running event inspired by the traditional Spanish spectacle made its U.S. debut.

The Great Bull Run was held at a drag-racing strip in Virginia.

Dressed in athletic gear, costumes and the traditional white shirts and pants and red scarves, the participants got a chance to recreate the world-famous running of the bulls at the festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain. They paid up to $75 for the chance.

Dinwiddie’s version of Pamplona’s festival of San Fermin is the first of nine bull-running events the promoters will put on around the country in the next year.

“Everybody’s happy,” said the Great Bull Run’s chief operating officer Rob Dickens after the first four of the day’s eight runs. “It’ll be back next year.”

Two people among the 4,000 runners were injured in the runnings, said the event’s organizer, Rob Dickens, one by a bull’s hoof, the other by hitting the fence.

Not everyone was happy about the idea. Some have criticized the treatment of bulls in the runs. Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States attended the Virginia event to ensure there was no mistreatment.

Organizers said they were partnering with ranches who supply the bulls and veterinarians to monitor their health. The planners also use fencing with coves for participants to get out of the way quickly.

Later events are planned for Texas, Florida, California, Minnesota, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Participants said Saturday’s run was exciting.

“I was with them the whole time,” said 43-year-old Dan Velker, a business owner from Elkton, near Harrisonburg. “Running near a 1,500-pound bull is what makes it exciting.”

Lining a quarter-mile-long dirt track at the Virginia Motorsports Park, groups of 500 people raced ahead, around and behind a dozen bulls stampeding down the fencebordered course.

“Oh, my god! My daughter’s crazy,” said Lisa Smith from Manassas as she watched her 22-year- old daughter, Megan Burks, in the crush of fast-moving animals and dodging runners.

Runners, many with family members and friends, came from across Virginia, like Velker and Burks, and farther afield, like 60-year-old Jim Kennedy from Spartanburg, S.C.

“I wasn’t going to miss this,” Kennedy said.