[The real bull run has not started yet. Bitcoin is stable between 10,000$ to 12000$ and we are again in the accumulation phase. Once we would have enough accumulation of bitcoin then we might see another pump of bitcoin which will take bitcoin above 15K.
I think bull run already is happening. Look at how the price surge from starting this 2019 up to the present. Bitcoin had been on $3k + then it is on $11k plus now so what do you call this trend? I can't call this a bear market nor it is going sideways. If we look at the chart it recorded several higher highs and lower high << a sign of Bitcoin bull market.
sometimes people expect bitcoin price to have gone up every morning that they check the price. so when they check it today and see it is $11200 and tomorrow it is still $11200 they think it must no longer be a bull run!!!
but in reality you are correct. we are in a bull run this year. so far we have witnessed a >260% rise this year which is phenomenal even if we don't see any more rises this year!
as for sideways which you mentioned, we are in a sideways market but only right now (in short term). which is natural after such a big rise and before the continuation of the rise.