Pamplona, Spain — Thousands of daredevils ran, skidded and tumbled out of the way of a stampeding group of bulls at the opening run of the San Fermín festival Monday. It was the first of nine morning runs or “encierros” during the famous celebrations held in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona.

The nine-day festival is famed for its “encierros,” or bull runs, which, starting on Monday, will see thousands of people sprint to avoid six bulls charging along a winding cobblestoned route to the city’s bullring.