Good question. I am fascinated by the emotion, the adventure, the chance to observe extreme human behavior, and the minutely organized lunacy. People are risking their lives, and the serious runners do it as a form of self-discovery. What do they learn? Why are the rest of the people there? How do people act in the face of death? I want to know.

There is, of course, controversy about the bulls. Bullfighting is cruel, and the bulls probably don't enjoy the runs. I'm not sure I approve of it, but no one needs my approval to do anything, either. But I think that the runs and the bullfights have so much history behind them that they might merit preservation on that point alone.

Bullfights are the last remaining pagan animal blood sacrifices in Europe. I think they serve to remind us of how different we are now than in the distant past, but I hesitate to assume that we have necessarily progressed. History ought to teach us humility.