Cebuana long-distance runner is fastest female in North Face trail run in Camarines Sur

Veteran runner Merlita Arias-Dunkin of Cebu defied the odds as she emerged the top female finisher in the North Face 100-kilometer trail run that ended at the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) grounds in Camarines Sur last Saturday.

The 37-year-old runner beat the records of two top female runners by clocking 15 hours and 36 minutes, making her one of the top long-distance runners in the country today.

She returned to Cebu P30,000 richer for her win in CamSur. She also got P10,000 worth of gift certificates from The North Face.

Arias-Dunkin confirmed that she broke the times of Aileen Tolentino (2009 record of 22 hours) and last year’s champion Helen Tacling (16 hours and 56 minutes) in the grueling 100-kilometer race. Tacling came in second while Tolentino wound up at third.

Arias-Dunkin said the route was a mix of mud trail, river trekking and jungle trek. But what made it really challenging was the intese heat of the sun.

“Ang pinakalisod kay ang ka init sa adlaw, labi na pag-abot nako sa kilometer 59,” she recalled. “Very open ang trail, gutom kaayo ko, unya nasamad na akong tiil pero pasalamat jud kaayo ko nga nakapadayon ko unya naka first pa jud ko.”
Mt. Isarog and Mt. Iriga in Camarines Sur served as the backdrop for the trail of the runners.

Arias-Dunkin also emerged as the best female finisher in the recent Mayon 360- 5O-Mile Run for Climate in Legazpi City, Albay held earlier this year.