Antonio Lledó, a diabetic looking for his tenth 'Strengths' | The truth

Antonio Lledó hopes to be among them. This Cartagena native is an expert in the event, as it will be his tenth participation. He has finished eight of them and only in 2018 did he have to say goodbye early due to physical problems.

Lledó has missed three editions of the test: the first, because he was unaware of its existence, and two others because he was in Costa Rica for work reasons. He, however, is a special runner. To the mountainous difficulties of the rest of the participants, he must add one more backpack: the diabetes that has been with him since he was 17 years old.

This graphic designer, now 40 years old, says that his life changed at that precise moment. «Before I barely did sports. When I started, they told me not to do it and that was precisely what encouraged me,” he says.

“I have had this disease for many years and I have already normalized it,” he comments. “At first, it was more of a trial and error thing, but now I know what I have to do,” she says. Lledó prepares like any other athlete who wants to overcome this tough challenge, but he has to add some more 'obligations'.

«The week before the race, I load up on carbohydrates and drink more fluids than usual. Many do that. In addition, the day before I considerably lower the dose of slow insulin to avoid having blood sugar crashes during the race,” she says with confidence.

“Right now, people no longer perceive that I have diabetes,” he says. «Apart from running, I have to keep an eye on my sensor. But the fact of being more focused I think allows me to enjoy it even more than the rest, because my head is more alert,” she reflects. The man from Cartagena is aware that his illness “has bad things,” but he also believes that “it has brought positive aspects” to his life.

A life of sport

Antonio Lledó is a daring guy. He has never set limits and in his personal record there are achievements as important as having been able to complete such tough tests as the Marathon des Sables, the Transvulcania, the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, the Gran Trail Peñalara or the mythical Titan Desert.

However, the man from Cartagena believes that the Route of Strengths has some special aspects that other races in which he has participated around the world do not provide. «The atmosphere is spectacular. The organization is very good, it is clear that it does not have a financial purpose and it is important at all times that the runner enjoys and does not lack anything. Also, running in your city with a lot of people you know is always a plus,” says Lledó. «It is a very hard and damaging test, which crushes you a lot. However, when you finish you are looking forward to the next year's registrations,” he says.

However, there are also some aspects that you would like to improve. “I would love for the race to end in the center of the city,” he says. Likewise, this expert runner believes that the most negative thing is that it is “somewhat overcrowded” and that, in some editions, there have been “blockages in certain areas that make you stop enjoying it.” Finally, Lledó leaves a wish: «Hopefully one day Mount Roldán will be climbed again. Of course, without harming the environment.

Finally, there will be 5,227 registered for the Route of Strengths. The organization received a total of 12,719 applications. 4,500 people of the 8,658 who registered in the draw will participate in the general test. 25% (1,109) are women and the rest (3,391) are men.

In the promotional test, there were 3,684 participants in a draw from which 350 participants were chosen. In it, there will be 40% women (148 in total) against 202 men. Regarding the children's and youth tests, a total of 304 and 73 registrations have been registered, respectively. In these two tests it was not necessary to carry out any draw as the places were not filled.

This edition of the Ruta de las Fortalezas will offer shuttle buses to those participating in the event, in order to avoid traffic difficulties in the starting area and also to facilitate the return home once the runners reach the finish line located in the 'General Albacete y Fuster' Marine Infantry School. The park and ride will be located in the La Rambla Shopping Center and the coaches will leave and return to the Sports Palace.

The race starts at 8:05 a.m. on Paseo Alfonso From the finish line, return buses will also be taken from twelve in the morning until 9:00 p.m., one hour after the finish line closes to participants.

On the other hand, registration for the children's event also closed this Tuesday, so all the races have already completed their numbers. These can be collected at the Port on Friday from 11 in the morning until 9 at night and also on Saturday from 6:30 a.m.