The Great Bull Run: America's take on the Spanish tradition – in pictures

Runners clear out in front of the bulls at the Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie, Virginia, on Saturday. The event – and some of the runners – is inspired by the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain Photograph: Joe Mahoney/AP

Does taking off your clothes mean you'll run faster? Photograph: Gary Cameron/Reuters

A man lies unconscious after being run over by bulls during the last heat at the Great Bull Run in Petersburg. Organisers said his was the only injury during the event Photograph: Gary Cameron/Reuters

The injured man in helped by paramedics after being hurt in the inaugural bull run
Photograph: Ken Cedeno/Corbis

The quarter-mile event, shorter than the historical event held in Pamplona, Spain, was held on a local drag racing track Photograph: Gary Cameron/Reuters

Organisers have said they're partnering with ranches that supply the bulls with veterinarians to monitor their health Photograph: Gary Cameron/Reuters

About 12,000 people attended the event, including spectators Photograph: Gary Cameron/Reuters

A participant in a Superman shirt prepares to run, presumably very fast Photograph: Gary Cameron/Reuters