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Field Ethos
Guest
By Gayne C. Young
Santiago Barrero San Román was killed by a bull while participating in the Running of the Bulls at the San Marcos Festival in the Spanish town of Beas de Segura on Friday, April 24, 2026. San Román, 33, was running an area of Calle Palomares—which is known locally as the “street of hell” due to the intensity of the bull runs there—around 7:00 p.m. local time when a bull gored him repeatedly. San Román suffered puncture wounds to his groin, chest and abdomen. He was rushed to a first aid station where he was treated and prepped for transfer to a hospital but died shortly before 8:00 p.m. Numerous news outlets reported that San Román leaves behind a daughter and pregnant wife, who is expecting a second girl.
The Running of the Bulls is an old, dangerous, and occasionally deadly celebration. It is believed to have started in Spain in the early 14th century when cattle herders drove their animals from the countryside through city centers to market or to a bull ring. Locals would often run with the bulls through the city to show how brave (or stupid) they were. The number of runners increased over the years as did the frenzy at which the bulls were driven forward. The event became a competition and ultimately a celebration. Running of the Bulls events have been held in France, England, Portugal, and Mexico but are most often associated with Spain. The most famous of the latter is held in Pamplona.
Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls takes place during the nine-day festival of Sanfermines, which is held every year from July 6–14. The actual running takes place on the morning of July 7 and each morning following with the bulls running the roughly half-mile route from the corral at Calle de Santo Domingo through the streets of the old quarter to the Plaza de Toros. The rules require that participants be at least 18 years old, not incite or antagonize the bulls, run in the same direction as the bulls, and not be under the influence of alcohol.
Yeah, right, on the under the influence part.
I mean, seriously, who runs with several thousand-pound, horned animals without having a belt or two first?
The rules don’t specify anything about clothing, but most runners (called mozos) opt to wear white trousers, a red sash called a faja around the waist, and a red neckerchief called a pañuelo. There are two legends as to why runners dress this way. The first says it’s to honor San Fermín, a saint (white) who was martyred (red). The other is that it honors the butchers (who wore red and white) who helped start the run.
Despite the fact that most bulls run the route in two to four minutes and runners usually only run with the bulls between 15 to 20 seconds, the event usually sees thousands of runners participate before crowds upward of a million people. The event is often televised and is immensely popular worldwide.
This is undoubtedly because the event was promoted as one of the manliest things to do on earth by Ernest Hemingway, who not only ran with the bulls himself but wrote about the majesty of Pamplona in “Death in the Afternoon” and “The Sun Also Rises.” In the latter Hemingway’s main character details, “When I woke it was the sound of the rocket exploding that announced the release of the bulls from the corrals at the edge of town…. Down below the narrow street was empty. All the balconies were crowded with people. Suddenly a crowd came down the street. They were all running, packed close together. They passed along and up the street toward the bullring and behind them came more men running faster, and then some stragglers who were really running. Behind them was a little bare space, and then the bulls galloping, tossing their heads up and down. It all went out of sight around the corner. One man fell, rolled to the gutter, and lay quiet. But the bulls went right on and did not notice him.”
The Running of the Bulls has also appeared in James Michener’s 1971 novel “The Drifters” and in the 1991 Billy Crystal film “City Slickers.”
The closest I’ve ever come to the Running of the Bulls was a cheap, trailer trash version of the event held at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth back in 2011. My friend Will and I went and were witness to an event that ranked two rungs below a small-town carnival in terms of attendees. Most of the runners who showed up at 8:00 a.m. were meth heads, homeless, burnouts, or frat boys. And unlike in Pamplona, drinking alcohol was strongly encouraged. Several booths were giving away free shots, and cans of beer were on sale on the cheap. At 9:30 we were all led onto a portion of the track and told to run like crazy. A cattle trailer was opened and a half dozen assortment of sad-looking bulls released. The animals didn’t really run so much as kind of haphazardly trotted the length of the course.
Despite this lack of effort on the bull’s part, a few people were injured when they either fell or ran into metal fencing (did I mention we were all encouraged to drink beforehand?). Everyone was given a t-shirt for participating, given a celebratory shot or beer, and invited to run with the bulls again later in the morning for half price. Will and I took the free beers but declined the half-price offer.
Despite the danger involved, the actual shortness of the event, and the massive crowds participating, I’d still love to run with the bulls in Pamplona. Field Ethos Outrider offers a hell of a package to Pamplona that includes four nights located near the world famous Encierro route, meals at the finest restaurants, access to Premium Private Balconies directly over the Encierro each morning, an interpreter and local guide, and help in planning and executing your run.
I’ve asked the Field Ethos higher ups numerous times about my taking the trip, but each time have been told that FE writers pay full price plus 15%. That didn’t make me feel very special and it really hurt my feelings. I told the bosses that, but I don’t think they cared. Actually, I think they found it hilarious.
Oh well. I’ll get to Pamplona someday. Even going on the cheap must be better than what I experienced outside Fort Worth.
The post Running for Your Life on the Streets of Hell appeared first on Field Ethos.
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Santiago Barrero San Román was killed by a bull while participating in the Running of the Bulls at the San Marcos Festival in the Spanish town of Beas de Segura on Friday, April 24, 2026. San Román, 33, was running an area of Calle Palomares—which is known locally as the “street of hell” due to the intensity of the bull runs there—around 7:00 p.m. local time when a bull gored him repeatedly. San Román suffered puncture wounds to his groin, chest and abdomen. He was rushed to a first aid station where he was treated and prepped for transfer to a hospital but died shortly before 8:00 p.m. Numerous news outlets reported that San Román leaves behind a daughter and pregnant wife, who is expecting a second girl.
The Running of the Bulls is an old, dangerous, and occasionally deadly celebration. It is believed to have started in Spain in the early 14th century when cattle herders drove their animals from the countryside through city centers to market or to a bull ring. Locals would often run with the bulls through the city to show how brave (or stupid) they were. The number of runners increased over the years as did the frenzy at which the bulls were driven forward. The event became a competition and ultimately a celebration. Running of the Bulls events have been held in France, England, Portugal, and Mexico but are most often associated with Spain. The most famous of the latter is held in Pamplona.
Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls takes place during the nine-day festival of Sanfermines, which is held every year from July 6–14. The actual running takes place on the morning of July 7 and each morning following with the bulls running the roughly half-mile route from the corral at Calle de Santo Domingo through the streets of the old quarter to the Plaza de Toros. The rules require that participants be at least 18 years old, not incite or antagonize the bulls, run in the same direction as the bulls, and not be under the influence of alcohol.
Yeah, right, on the under the influence part.
I mean, seriously, who runs with several thousand-pound, horned animals without having a belt or two first?
The rules don’t specify anything about clothing, but most runners (called mozos) opt to wear white trousers, a red sash called a faja around the waist, and a red neckerchief called a pañuelo. There are two legends as to why runners dress this way. The first says it’s to honor San Fermín, a saint (white) who was martyred (red). The other is that it honors the butchers (who wore red and white) who helped start the run.
The Run
Despite the fact that most bulls run the route in two to four minutes and runners usually only run with the bulls between 15 to 20 seconds, the event usually sees thousands of runners participate before crowds upward of a million people. The event is often televised and is immensely popular worldwide.
This is undoubtedly because the event was promoted as one of the manliest things to do on earth by Ernest Hemingway, who not only ran with the bulls himself but wrote about the majesty of Pamplona in “Death in the Afternoon” and “The Sun Also Rises.” In the latter Hemingway’s main character details, “When I woke it was the sound of the rocket exploding that announced the release of the bulls from the corrals at the edge of town…. Down below the narrow street was empty. All the balconies were crowded with people. Suddenly a crowd came down the street. They were all running, packed close together. They passed along and up the street toward the bullring and behind them came more men running faster, and then some stragglers who were really running. Behind them was a little bare space, and then the bulls galloping, tossing their heads up and down. It all went out of sight around the corner. One man fell, rolled to the gutter, and lay quiet. But the bulls went right on and did not notice him.”
The Running of the Bulls has also appeared in James Michener’s 1971 novel “The Drifters” and in the 1991 Billy Crystal film “City Slickers.”
The closest I’ve ever come to the Running of the Bulls was a cheap, trailer trash version of the event held at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth back in 2011. My friend Will and I went and were witness to an event that ranked two rungs below a small-town carnival in terms of attendees. Most of the runners who showed up at 8:00 a.m. were meth heads, homeless, burnouts, or frat boys. And unlike in Pamplona, drinking alcohol was strongly encouraged. Several booths were giving away free shots, and cans of beer were on sale on the cheap. At 9:30 we were all led onto a portion of the track and told to run like crazy. A cattle trailer was opened and a half dozen assortment of sad-looking bulls released. The animals didn’t really run so much as kind of haphazardly trotted the length of the course.
Despite this lack of effort on the bull’s part, a few people were injured when they either fell or ran into metal fencing (did I mention we were all encouraged to drink beforehand?). Everyone was given a t-shirt for participating, given a celebratory shot or beer, and invited to run with the bulls again later in the morning for half price. Will and I took the free beers but declined the half-price offer.
Run With FE Outrider
Despite the danger involved, the actual shortness of the event, and the massive crowds participating, I’d still love to run with the bulls in Pamplona. Field Ethos Outrider offers a hell of a package to Pamplona that includes four nights located near the world famous Encierro route, meals at the finest restaurants, access to Premium Private Balconies directly over the Encierro each morning, an interpreter and local guide, and help in planning and executing your run.
I’ve asked the Field Ethos higher ups numerous times about my taking the trip, but each time have been told that FE writers pay full price plus 15%. That didn’t make me feel very special and it really hurt my feelings. I told the bosses that, but I don’t think they cared. Actually, I think they found it hilarious.
Oh well. I’ll get to Pamplona someday. Even going on the cheap must be better than what I experienced outside Fort Worth.
The post Running for Your Life on the Streets of Hell appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
