<P> In Pamplona, a set of wooden fences are erected to direct the bulls along the route and to block off side streets . A double wooden fence is used in those areas where there is enough space, while in other parts the buildings of the street act as barriers . The gaps in the barricades are wide enough for a human to slip through but narrow enough to block a bull . The fence is composed of approximately three thousand separate pieces of wood . Some parts of the fence remain in place for the duration of the fiesta, while others are placed and removed each morning . Spectators can only stand behind the second fence, whereas the space between the two fences is reserved for security and medical personnel and also to participants who need cover during the event . </P> <P> The encierro begins with runners singing a benediction . It is sung three times, each time being sung both in Spanish and Basque . The benediction is a prayer given at a statue of Saint Fermin, patron of the festival and the city, to ask the saint's protection and can be translated into English as "We ask Saint Fermin, as our Patron, to guide us through the encierro and give us his blessing". The singers finish by shouting "¡ Viva San Fermín! and Gora San Fermin! (' Long live Saint Fermin', in Spanish and Basque, respectively). Most runners dress in the traditional clothing of the festival which consists of a white shirt and trousers with a red waistband (faja) and neckerchief (pañuelo). Also some of them hold the day's newspaper rolled to draw the bulls' attention from them if necessary . </P> <P> A first rocket is set off at 8 a.m. to alert the runners that the corral gate is open . A second rocket signals that all six bulls have been released . The third and fourth rockets are signals that all of the herd has entered the bullring and its corral respectively, marking the end of the event . The average duration between the first rocket and the end of the encierro is two minutes, 30 seconds . </P> <P> The encierro is usually composed of the six bulls to be fought in the afternoon, six steers that run in herd with the bulls, and three more steers that follow the herd to encourage any reluctant bulls to continue along the route . The function of the steers, who run the route daily, is to guide the bulls to the bullring . The average speed of the herd is 24 km / h (15 mph). </P>

Where does the running of the bulls end