When I was young, my father used to refer to New Years Eve as "amateur night". It took me until I was in my 30's to understand the term.

I get the feeling that San Fermin is just one gigantic "amateur night".

I have an American friend who lives in Pamplona. He is a teacher at the university and a guide on the Camino in the summer. He can't leave town fast enough during San Fermin!

DAY FOUR: (video below) A fast-yet-not-furious running of the bulls in Pamplona today, the fastest yet at 2 minute & 22 seconds. 5 injuries today, all Spaniards this time. Lots of people falling down and subsequent runners falling over them. The pavement was dry this morning so that helped the speed of the bulls, too.

• Rapidísimo y limpio cuarto encierro de San Fermín 2012, de El Pilar

1:25 minutes.Have you seen the man with red tie, between 2 bulls.....jejeje! another HERO! By the way, a good middle distance runner

DAY FIVE: (video below) A pretty fast and clean running of the bulls in Pamplona this morning, lasting just 3 minutes 12 seconds. The last bull entering the ring got distracted and constantly buckled at the "knees". (tired from the run?) So far, only two persons were taken to the hospital, one from New Orleans, USA and one from Valencia, Spain. Only 3 more days of the 2012 Running of the Bulls in Pamplona!
Saludos, MadridMan

• Rápido y limpio quinto encierro de San Fermín 2012, de Fuente Ymbro

Glorius, not a runner but a lover of traditions.

Redmar, totally agree on a superb tradition! Can you, or anyone else, explain why the last bull kept going down?

DAY SIX: (Video below) 6 contusions in today's SUNNY 2 minute 20 second running of the bulls in Pamplona. Of the injured, 1 from the California USA, 3 from Pamplona, and one from Llodio (Álava). The oldest injured today was a 62 year old from Pamplona. On the FIRST day, there was a 73 year old runner from Pamplona and he's STILL in the hospital after 5 days. 73 YEARS OLD!

Only 2 days left of Pamplona's Running of the Bulls!

• Veloz y noble sexto encierro de San Fermín 2012, de Victoriano

the last bull was old and weak, coud not stand on it own for sure. no other explanation possible ::)

DAY SEVEN: (Video below) 6 persons injured in today's next-to-last day of the running of the bulls in Pamplona; 2 from the USA, one from Madrid, one from Jordan, and to from the region. All those injured were in their 20s and 30s. Today's running lasted just 2 minutes and 23 seconds. The herd stayed mostly together the entire way on this sunny Friday morning.

Tomorrow's the last day of the 2012 Pamplona Running of the Bulls!

Saludos, MadridMan

• Vertiginoso séptimo encierro de San Fermín 2012, de J.P Domecq

(14 July) DAY EIGHT - LAST DAY of Pamplona's Running of the Bulls 2012, lasting 2 minutes 31 seconds. It was one of the most dangerous of all the festival. The front-running bull was much faster than the others and sped-up to catch those running in front of him, plowing over and tossing aside at least 4 people that I saw. The last bull to reach the bullring wouldn't go in and ran over one person. 3 Spaniards were taken to hospital and released. One Irish person was admitted to the hospital for head injuries and remains there still after 3 days, but is improving.

• Peligrosísimo y rápido último encierro de San Fermín 2012, de Torrehandilla

(15 July) END OF FESTIVAL, "Pobre de Mi" video. Thousands of candle-holding persons gathering in the plaza at night below Pamplona's City Hall to sing "Pobre de Mi", signaling and end of the 2013 Running of the Bulls. Fireworks, too!:

• El 'Pobre de mí' clausura los sanfermines 2012

Until next year! Hope you enjoyed Pamplona's Running of the Bulls festival!!

Saludos, MadridMan