PAMPLONA – At the kick-off of the San Fermín festival on Monday, thousands of thrill-seekers ran, skidded, and stumbled to dodge six charging bulls.

It was the first of nine morning runs during the famous celebrations held in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona.

The bulls thundered through the winding, cobblestone streets, guided by six steers. Up to 4,000 participants join each bull run, held over 846 meters (2,775 feet) and typically spanning three to four minutes.

Most participants don the customary attire of white pants and shirt, complemented by a red sash and scarf. Skilled Spanish runners aim to dash right in front of the bull’s horns for a few heart-pounding seconds, teasing the animals with a rolled newspaper.

Thousands of spectators watch from balconies and wooden barricades along the course. Millions more follow the visceral spectacle on live television.

While gorings are not rare, many more people are bruised and injured in falls and pileups with each other. Medics rush in to treat the injured and take the seriously hurt to a hospital.

Unofficial records say at least 15 people have died in the bull runs over the past century. The deadliest day on record was July 13, 1980, when four runners were killed by two bulls. The last death was in 2009.

The rest of each day is for eating, drinking, dancing and cultural entertainment, including bull fights where the animals that run in the morning are slain in the bull ring by professional matadors each afternoon.

The festival was made internationally famous by Ernest Hemingway’s classic 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises” about American bohemians wasting away in Europe.

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Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.