1 injured during Baytown bull run Amid 3,500 people running with the bulls, only one took a brief trip to the hospital

One man was hospitalized and a few others suffered minor injuries Saturday as roughly 3,500 people faced off with a few dozen bulls at an inaugural run in Baytown.

The Great Bull Run, held at the Royal Purple Raceway, was a spinoff of the annual event in Pamplona, Spain. Eager participants paid $70 to stand on a track for about 2 minutes, facing fear head on as the bulls ran toward them.

"Then they make their choice," said founder Rob Dickens. "Do they turn and hide? Or do they try to run?"

Sales executives, IT specialists and other thrill-seekers, ages 18 to 69, came from across the country to participate in some of the seven runs.

Chris Robertson, 25, from Houston had thought the event sounded exciting, but may have been second-guessing himself as he lay in the dirt in a fetal position after a mishap.

"I saw them coming so I started jogging, then when I looked back they were a lot closer," he said. "I got hit by one of them and went down. I was just thinking, 'Stay down, stay down.' I didn't see death, but it was one of those things where you really know you're alive."

Officials said that most of the 3,000 spectators come to see people get hurt, like rubbernecking at a car crash. At first they cheered and hollered, but the crowd fell quiet when 21-year-old Hugo Soto from Pasadena got trampled in the final race.

As he lay injured, participants surrounded him, trying to protect him from more damage.

Adventure seekers rush to stay ahead of the bovines in The Great Bull Run at Royal Purple Raceway on Saturday. Adventure seekers rush to stay ahead of the bovines in The Great Bull Run at Royal Purple Raceway on Saturday. Photo: Mayra Beltran, Staff Photo: Mayra Beltran, Staff Image 1 of / 80 Caption Close 1 injured during Baytown bull run 1 / 80 Back to Gallery

"I did not think it was that dangerous. I did not think our day would end up like this," said Soto's cousin, Irving Garcia, as he called his aunt to tell her that her son was en route to the hospital.

Soto was treated for head injuries at Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital in Baytown and released after a few hours.

Organizers say it was just another day at the office for the Great Bull Run.

"Two people went to hospital in the first one in Virginia," said Dave Fanucchi, a spokesman for the event. "One person got hurt in the second one in Atlanta, so this is about equivalent."

The Atlanta injury included a broken pelvis.

Despite the danger, adrenalin-fueled activities like this seem to be on the rise, spectators said.

"These kinds of things never used to exist," said Seth Angel, general manager of the Royal Purple Raceway.

The Tough Mudder challenge drew 12,000 people to the raceway last year to run a 12-mile obstacle course that involved swimming through ice-filled containers.

Unlike the bull run, that event raises money for charity and involves some skill, stamina and training.

Many of the people at The Great Bull Run seemed to be more interested in the quick thrill.

Michael Ellis from Houston and Chris Reed from The Woodlands prepared for their experience with "beer and a fireball."

"They got real close, they brushed me but thankfully they didn't have their sights set on me," said insurance adjuster Jake Hunter.

He's going skydiving next week.