The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale
You don't need to go to Spain to experience an event similar to the Running of the Bulls.
The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale are taking place at the Hawthorne Race course in west suburban Cicero.
The day-long festival is the Americana version of the world-renowned Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain and the great tomato fight like the annual La Tomatina in Valencia.
Joining us this morning was Rob Dickens, co-founder of the Great Bull Run.
FAST FACTS:
-Launched in April of 2013, The Great Bull Run currently has 10 events scheduled nationwide. Each festival features multiple runnings of the bulls throughout the day followed by Tomato Royale, a massive tomato food fight with thousands of participants. For those who prefer watching rather than participating, spectator areas are set up along The Great Bull Run track and around the Tomato Royale arena and include music, festival games, food and beverages.
-The Great Bull Run will hold its Chicago event at Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero on July 12, 2014. Tickets are available online at www.thegreatbullrun.com and at the gate on the day of the event. Prices increase over time, ranging from $50-$75 for runners, $35-$50 for Tomato Royale participants and $10-$15 for spectators. Deepest discounts are in effect until May 16. Runners must be 18 years or older with a valid government ID while Tomato Royale participants must be 14 or older.
-There are obvious risks associated with running with real bulls, but it's not as dangerous as it first seems. Of the 20,000 people who have participated in the five The Great Bull Run events to date, only two have required significant medical attention (one for a broken wrist and one for a broken pelvis) - an injury rate much lower than an average high school football game.
"The runners are ultimately responsible for dodging the bulls when they come through, but we've taken additional measures to decrease the risk of injury and make this event accessible to everyone, not just the craziest thrill-seekers out there," said Rob Dickens, co-founder of The Great Bull Run. "The course fencing allows runners to climb over to avoid bulls and there are nooks in the fence where runners can hide, but most importantly, our bulls don't have sharpened horns like the ones in Spain, which greatly reduces the risk of goring."
The Great Bull Run also has good news for animal lovers. Unlike the event in Spain, the bulls won't be killed in a bullfight after the festival. Instead, their health and safety is closely monitored at all times by veterinarians, which has resulted in zero injuries to the bulls to date.
- Mark Cuban invested $1.75 million in this event on "Shark Tank"
The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale are coming to the Hawthorne Race Course, located just 9 miles outside of Chicago in Cicero, Ill., on Saturday July 12, 2014. The thrilling, day-long festival appeals to runners and spectators alike for being an Americana version of the world-renowned Running of the Bulls, which has taken place in Pamplona, Spain for centuries (and is celebrated July 7-14 of 2014), as well as La Tomatina, which has taken place in Valencia, Spain for the past 69 years. Marking the first time the event has come to the United States in a nationwide series, The Great Bull Run has been featured on ABC's Shark Tank, ESPN and NBC's TODAY. www.thegreatbullrun.com
The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale are an ultra unique form of entertainment, designed explicitly for the thrill-seeking and fun-loving individual. A bucket list event for so many around the world, The Great Bull Run's co-founders Rob Dickens and Brad Scudder were inspired to bring these two time-honored Spanish events to the United States, making the once-in-a-lifetime experiences both more accessible and dynamic. With renowned entrepreneur Mark Cuban of Mark Cuban Companies famously investing in The Great Bull Run on Shark Tank this past April 2014, a total of 25,000 participants have turned out for previous Great Bull Runs and Tomato Royales, including a 72-year old woman in Texas, and fans calling it "the thrill of a lifetime," The Great Bull Run is well on its way to being among the greatest of American festivals. The following outlines each component of the event:
I. Running with The Bulls: Saturday July 12, 2014 11am-1:30pm: Runners will experience the thrill of a lifetime as they enter a mile stretch of Hawthorne Race Course's track with two sets of twenty 1,500-pound bulls who run at a clip of 35 miles per hour.
Rob Dickens, Co-Founder of The Great Bull Run, who has run with the bulls nearly one dozen times himself, clarifies that no sprint or running training is necessary to run with the bulls, just a heavy dose of courage, a willingness to grab life by the horns, and a desire for the kind of rush that comes from doing something so unusual. "We amp up the excitement factor by partnering with Lone Star Rodeo out of Crofton, Kentucky, to handpick the best and rowdiest bulls this side of the Atlantic. At the same time, we've decreased the risk of serious injury by providing course fencing for runners to climb and, most importantly, selecting bulls without sharpened horns like those in Spain," says Dickens.
The Great Bull Run's Running with The Bulls at Hawthorne Race Course will occur between 11am and 1:30pm in six different sessions on Saturday July 12, 2014. Tickets are currently on-sale online for $55 until June 20, 2014 and then for $60 until July 8, 2014 at www.thegreatbullrun.com. A ticket includes: One running with the bulls; One Tomato Royale food fight; Access to the day-long festival featuring great music, tasty food, fun games and cold beer; Access to all spectator areas for both The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale; One Great Bull Run t-shirt; One Great Bull Run bandana; One beer (if 21 or over). Participants must be 18+ to purchase tickets.
II. Tomato Royale: Saturday, July 12, 2014; 3pm: Arguably the country's most epic food fight, Tomato Royale takes place after the running with the bulls and adjacent to its track. Tomato Royale is inspired by Spain's famous La Tomatina festival, which dates back to 1945. When the music starts, participants sprint to the massive mound of tomatoes piled in the center of the arena and the food fight begins. In this wild and friendly battle, it's every man for himself as tomatoes are hurled at family, friends and strangers. Each Great Bull Run ticket also includes entry to Tomato Royale, but non Bull Run participants can join in the fun too. Tickets solely for Tomato Royale are currently on-sale online for $40 until June 20, 2014 and then for $45 until July 8, 2014 at www.thegreatbullrun.com. A ticket includes: One Tomato Royale food fight; Access to the day-long festival featuring great music, tasty food, fun games and cold beer; Access to all spectator areas for both The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale; One Tomato Royale t-shirt; One beer (if 21 or over). Participants must be 14+ to purchase tickets.
Spectators: Whether seeking the thrill of watching people run with bulls or throwing tomatoes at one another, spectators are welcome. Options for viewing areas consist of stands, bleachers and standing room areas next to both The Great Bull Run track and Tomato Royale arena. Tickets are currently for sale online for $10 until July 8, 2014 at www.thegreatbullrun.com. Children 13 and under are free.
Safety and Concerns: The Great Bull Run has now held six events at various locations across the country with 25,000 people participating in total. There are obvious risks associated with running with real bulls, but of all participants, only two have required significant medical attention (one for a broken wrist and one for a broken pelvis) - an injury rate much lower than an average college football game. There have been no deaths in The Great Bull Run. The bulls used in The Great Bull Run are well cared for by Lone Star Rodeo and an onsite veterinarian. There is absolutely no animal abuse or cruelty at any time. The bulls are transported in accordance with all laws and regulations governing the transport of animals. Tomato Royale is mindful of food waste and makes every effort to source tomatoes that are unfit for human consumption.
For current updates of The Great Bull Run and Tomato Royale, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/thegreatbullrun and Twitter at www.twitter.com/thegreatbullrun.
