It was 1986 and I had just graduated from college. A few friends and I decided to hitch-hike through Spain. When we cam upon the Festival of San Fermin we were awe-struck - a ten-day party that did not stop. After partying two-days straight high on Sangria we proceeded to run with the bulls on the fourth morning of the running.

It was a beautiful day and the crowds were huge. The festival had already been marred by 3 deaths from ETA's bombs in the square and two deaths from bulls - it was going to be a bloody festival.

We lined up about 500 yards from the bull ring. The gun went off from the top of the corals where the bulls are kept. We waited with apprehension. I had given my Super 8 camera to a girl who would film me enter the bull ring. We then heard the roar of the crowds and the menacing thunder of the bulls. Then they came into view soaring down the white and red lined street. We waited till they were about 25 yards from us before we gripped our newspapers (it is tradition to touch the bull with a newspaper) and started running. As the bulls approached outpacing us we ran to the side of the street trying to keep pace and finding an opportunity to "touch one". I found a bull on the nose as I approached the bull ring. What I didn't anticipate was that the entrance to the bull ring was clogged with persons from all over the world. I was one of those persons trapped in the entrance while the bulls bared down on us.

It happened quick. We were the first line of defensive of the clogged crowd. The bulls weren't slowing down and they were headed right for me. As we yelled and screamed to get into the ring, a young swedish kid tripped in front of me and we both feel to the ground. He wanted to get up but it was too late for that. I yelled at him to lye flat on the ground and cover his head. Just then, the bulls ran over us kicking me in the back and legs. It lasted about one-minute but it seemed like forever.

My new friend and I limped into the arena to cheers of onlookers. It was ny first and hopefully my last E-ticket ride at the running of the Bulls in Pamplona - The festival of San Fermin.