An Alcurrucen's ranch fighting bull runs towards revelers during the running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, Spain, Sunday, July 7, 2013. Revelers from around the world arrive to Pamplona every year to take part on some of the eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises.' (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)PAMPLONA, Spain (AP) - Several thousand thrill-seekers tested their bravery by dashing alongside six fighting bulls through the streets of the northern Spanish city of Pamplona on the first day of the running of the bulls at the annual San Fermin festival on Sunday.
Despite a large crowd of participants because the run coincided with a weekend, only four people were treated for injuries and no one was gored, officials said.
The regional government of Navarra, which is responsible for organizing the festival, said in a statement that none of the four are seriously injured.
A 24-year-old Australian, whom it identified only by the initials J. C., was being treated for bruising, as was a 44-year-old British national. An American citizen identified only as C.S. was also receiving treatment for a minor injury, as was a 36-year-old native of Pamplona, the statement said.
There was a moment of tension as the last bull of the pack became disoriented and turned around to look back at runners, but it eventually entered the bullring without charging at anyone.
The nine-day fiesta was immortalized in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises.'
'It's tremendous how many people there are here today,' said Enrique Maya, mayor of Pamplona.
Every morning of the festival at 8 a.m., six bulls specifically bred for fighting race through the narrow, medieval streets of Pamplona accompanied by an equal number of large steers - each wearing a clanking cowbell - tasked with keeping the pack tight and galloping at an even pace.
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