Running of Bulls to bring thrill seekers to Cave Creek

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR~ 10/12/2011

This weekend Cave Creek will be visited by a group of people that see the world in a different light.
It’s a segment of the population that takes the bull by the horns when it comes to the game of life.
“I’ve signed my life away on waivers so many times doing crazy things that I’ve gotten to the point where I look forward to it,” Jenna Buan, a 37-year-old from Gilbert, said. “Sometimes I’ve had the feeling, oh boy, what have I gotten myself into, but the payoff is a feeling of absolute exhilaration. It’s such a triumphant feeling of success when you complete it. The endorphin rush is fantastic.”
Though Buan and her fellow adrenaline junkies figuratively challenge bulls head-on in life their goal this weekend will be to avoid any entanglements with the animals that weigh more than 1,000 pounds.
For the first time since 2002 and only the fourth time in the United States, Cave Creek will host a Running of the Bulls on the south side of Cave Creek Road next to Foothills Granite.
Beginning Friday gates will open at 4 p.m. with a media run to follow at 5 p.m., a charity run at 6 p.m. and a party and concert beginning at 7 p.m. with a slate of acts that include Steady Remedy, Keltic Cowboys and Weird is the New Cool.
On Saturday the first run will be at noon, followed by additional opportunities at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Sunday’s slate includes runs at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Sean Keeney, a 22-year-old student at Mesa Community College, has purchased an all-run pass, giving  him a chance to test his mettle as often as he wants for $50.
“I’ve always thought it would be cool to go to Barcelona, but knowing how far it is I probably would have never made it, but this is right in our own backyard,” he said. “I’ve got five of my friends coming with me. I’m into rock climbing, mountain climbing, spelunking, all sorts of out of the norm things. I hate sitting in front of the television. I don’t know how so many people do that these days. You go back to work on Monday and coworkers ask you what you’ve done over the weekend. I like having the best story.”
Like Buan, Keeney plays rugby.
“We have a saying about rugby, you don’t have to be crazy to play rugby, we’ll teach you,” Buan said.
While Keeney and Buan are Valley residents the event has gained national attention.
Zarina Polston of Portland, Oregon and James Wilhelm of Chillicothe, Ohio are flying in to participate.
“I’m in my 40s and all my life I’ve made the comment that I’d like to go to Spain for their event,” he said. “I’ve been trying for years to find somebody that wanted to go with me, but it hasn’t happened.”
Wilhelm, said he’s anxious to knock a big item off his bucket list.
“Most of the things I’ve done haven’t been that crazy,” he said. “The most dangerous thing I’ve done to this point has been driving on the Audubon. I’ve been to a whole bunch of foreign countries and 46 of the 50 states in the U.S. I’ve boated down the Amazon River. I’ve watched the sunrise from the top of a volcano. I’ve seen the shuttle launch. A lot of them are doing things in exotic locations. This one is a little different. It’s kind of stupid, but it will get me one step closer to completing my list. A lot of people don’t understand  it, but the older you get the more you want to knock these things off your list.”
While he’s done most of the items on his list with his wife Wilhelm will be traveling solo to Arizona.
“This one I’m on my own,” he said. “She just said don’t kill yourself. I’m sure I’m going to be pretty nervous about it. I don’t know how the animals couldn’t frighten you, but I don’t expect do anything stupid. I’m in good shape so I think I’ll be okay.”
Polston, 20, who grew up in Flagstaff, said coming home from Portland for the Running of the Bulls was a must.
“I’m a spur of the moment type,” she said. “One day I didn’t show up to work and just got in my car and started off on a tour of the country. I visited 38 states before deciding to call Portland home.”
Polston, who said bungee jumping is probably the most comparable adrenaline rush she has experienced, described the rush she gets from doing things with an element of danger.
“It’s really almost indescribable,” she said. “It’s a euphoric feeling. All these emotions go racing through you at once. It’s as if fairies and leprechauns are going through your body. You’re in the moment. It’s a great, complete body high. It’s exhilarating. It reminds you that you’re alive.” 
While Polston acknowledges that she’s viewed youtube videos of people getting trampled in the next breath she sounds at least equally concerned about what her wardrobe for the event will be.
“Right before I run I’m sure I’m going to be terrified, but I won’t back home. I’ve heard you get to walk the track before the run so you can see spots where you can leap out if you need to,” she said. “I’m not quite sure what I’m going to go with for my costume. I heard there’s a contest and I definitely want to win. I’m thinking some part of my costume will have to be rainbow. I’m leaning toward some short denim jeans, bull horns in my hair and some outrageous red lashes.”
For Buan, who is planning on wearing a fake moustache, noting that the event in Spain for years didn’t allow women to participate, the Cave Creek event is just another opportunity to have a good time.
“I’ve lost all shock value with my colleagues at work,” Buan said. “I’ve been skydiving three times, bungee jumping twice. I  went rafting on the Zambezi and made it through rapids they called the  Mashing Jaws of Death. I’ve been rock climbing, repelling and a Gorge swing. I’ve had a running list of about 100 things I want to get done since probably back in  1990. Normally it cost me a lot of money to do the things I do so the fact that I can conveniently and cheaply risk my life for $25 is awesome.”
For information on the event go to runwiththebullsusa.com.