Photography

[RH Photos] The Great Bull Run (7/12/2014)

Photos by Bryan Lamb

I ran with the bulls and survived. Well, to be more accurate, I jogged alongside the bulls, but that's neither here nor there. The Great Bull Run came to the Chicagoland area last weekend, and Ruby Hornet was there to experience what'll hopefully be the first of many bull run events here in Chicago. As detailed in-depth with COO Rob Dickens last week, The Great Bull Run is similar to The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, where a handful of bulls are let loose in the town's streets as many brave and daring participants run from them as part of the larger San Fermin Festival.

The Great Bull Run, however, offers a safer experience than the one in Pamplona, both for runners and bulls alike. Unlike The Running of the Bulls, The Great Bull Run takes place in a controlled, cordoned-off race track with bull handlers and event staff on the track to ensure nobody gets hurt. Rather than run directly in front of the bulls, participants are advised to stick to the sides until the bulls pass them, at which point they can "run" beside them. The Great Bull Run released three waves of bulls during one race, allowing runners multiple opportunities to run with the animals. However, the biggest danger runners face aren't the bulls themselves, but fellow runners who may not have the spatial awareness of their surroundings and can knock others over, leading to trampling. Luckily, I didn't see this happen much, although I did catch a few people hit the deck.

Following the bull races was the Tomato Royale in which participants simply had a large tomato fight. Despite staff members urging participants to smash the tomatoes before tossing them, many full tomatoes were thrown, causing a few bumps and bruises. One person had to check in with the medical staff for what looked like a broken nose. I expected fun mayhem out of the Tomato Royale, but it just ended up being a muddy, messy affair. Outside of the tomato royale and bull runs, other fun activities were present on the Hawthorne Race Course grounds including mechanical bull rides and inflatable gladiator fights, providing entertainment outside of the event's main draws.

With plans to return to Chicago next year, The Great Bull Run could become a mid-summer staple for years to come. Check out some of the photos taken by Bryan Lamb below, and keep an eye out for some first-person videos from the event later this week!

by Geoff Henao