Kaixo Travelers!

It is that time of the year where the world descends upon an otherwise sleepy town in Spain. So put on your red and white and lets run with the bulls. Before I go on I am putting in the disclaimer that whatever information follows is for general knowledge and iKangaroo is not responsible if you read this and decide to run or jump off a tower or perform any of the other traditional acts that defy reason. After-all, a statistic is just that until it happens to you when it then becomes a_________? With this said based on a number of sources including personal experience here are some stats aggregated from 1980 to 2006 that may come in handy if you do decide to take a run on the .8km stretch of Pamplona street:

• About 4,000 people run on the weekends compared to 2,500 during the week
• The highest number of gorings happens on Mondays with about 1.2
• Average number of gorings per race is .94
• Since 1980 till this writing on July 6, 2007 there have been 3 fatalities
• Average number of injuries per race demanding a trip to the hospital equals 4.05
• Average number of 1st aid cases equals 30.1

These numbers do not take into account the injuries related to tourists that jump off balconies and other heights into sometimes waiting crowds; yep, that’s right, sometimes waiting crowds. After-all, there is a lot going on and people turn away. I saw an example 1st hand as I was eating what must have been the best tapas ever. I have no idea if he ever walked again.

Things to watch out for that increase your chances of getting hurt:

• Do not be a foreigner. The general consensus is that foreigners make up a small percentage of the runners and a disproportionate number of the injured.
• Do not be under the influence of anything
• Be well rested
• Be fit
• Do not touch the bulls. You may get beaten down someone from Pamplona
• If its wet, you might slip and that is bad
• Different bulls, from different ranches traditionally have different aggression levels and goring records. The ranches with the most gorings are the Torrestrella, Jardilla and Cabada

I know these are stating the obvious and will make no difference once a bunch of sangria has been downed and it is 7:59, but at least ask the bull where he is from. For those of you that have also been to Pamplona for what we like to call the best atmosphere ever please keep us informed as to how it all played out this year. We would appreciate any stories, tips, strategies, pictures or videos that you may have taken. And for those of you that are thinking about going in the future do not forget to check back in to see all the juicy info that we have put together for you.

Eskerrik asko and Lasai (Basque for thanks and take it easy)

The iKangaroo Team

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