This is the longest and most famous leg of the bull run course, spanning some 300 meters. This hard bend is called “Dead Man’s Corner” for good reason. Getting caught between animal and wall could spell serious injury or death. The route takes a hard right at the end of Mercaderes as it turns onto Estafeta Street, also known as “ La Curva.” It is here that runners are encouraged to be extra careful as the bulls are pushed outward toward the barricade by their own inertia.
This section of the bull run is one of the shortest and most perilous. The beasts tend to brush along the right side of the fence, giving runners a decent shot at making a fast exit on the opposite side if need be. The herd slows down marginally as the road makes a slight left bend onto Mercaderes street. This section is roughly 100 meters long, and about 9 meters wide. Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Square)Īlso known as Plaza Consistorial, this second stretch of the route is flatter and slightly wider as the path crosses Plaza del Ayuntamiento, which feeds into Mercaderes. The street has a slight uphill incline, enabling the bulls to run at lightning speed, propelled by the shouts and chaos of the crowds. Once they blast out of their holding pen, they are breathing down the necks of the runners in a matter of seconds.
MYRUNNING MAP FULL
Why? Because the bulls are fresh and full of energy. This first section of the bull run spans 280 meters and is widely considered the most dangerous. The Pamplona bull run begins at the bottom of Calle de Santo Domingo, a sloping street that is hemmed in between ancient stone walls.
The route is distributed along three main streets in Pamplona: Santo Domingo, Mercaderes and Estafeta. There are sharp right angles, perilous slopes, uneven pavers and a tricky bottleneck at the end where the beasts are funneled into the bullring. The bull run map looks short enough, but bear in mind that these centuries-old streets are riddled with hazards for both runner and animal. The 875-meter bull run route snakes along narrow streets through the Casco Viejo (Old Quarter) of Pamplona.
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