After a long day at work, athlete Maria Jonna Lina Abutas doesn’t sit down to rest, she puts on her running shoes and hits the road.
After a long day at work, most people want to collapse on the couch.
But for Maria Jonna Lina Abutas, a full-time military professional, the best way to unwind is to hit the pavement.
What others call “rest days,” she calls time to lace up, reset, and find the peace that keeps her grounded.
For anyone balancing a busy job and a love for fitness, running becomes more than exercise—it’s a stress reliever, a mental reset, and a way to shake up the routine.
Abutas shared how her journey started early.
“Elementary po ako nag-start, grade 6. ‘Yung teacher ko po ‘yong nag-introduce sa amin sa running. Hanggang sa nagtuloy-tuloy po siya, nag-regional po kami hanggang sa Palarong Pambansa no’ng high school. Do’n po nag-start ‘yung journey ko na no’ng college sa FEU hanggang sa mag-graduate. Tuloy-tuloy na ’yon. 13 years na po ako sa industry ng running.”
For her, running is now a passion and a necessity.
“Para po sa akin, naging passion ko na kumbaga. Hinahanap na talaga ng katawan ko. Kapag once na-start niyo na po tumakbo, kahit beginner pa lang po kayo, hahanap-hanapin talaga ng katawan mo.”
Even after long shifts, Abutas finds her reset in running.
“Kahit gaano ka pa kapagod sa trabaho, after work, gabi na ako tumatakbo. Parang siya ‘yung nagiging source of rest ko. Sabi nga, anong rest day mo? Takbo po kasi ‘yon. Imbes na nagpapahinga ako, itatakbo ko siya kasi ‘yon talaga ‘yong hinahanap ng katawan ko.”
She adds, “Minsan after nago-overtime, 8 or 9 na po ako nakakapag-start. After [nun], ang sarap sa feeling. Kapag once na nakatakbo ka na, masasabi mong fulfilling. Kasi kapag once na parang na-miss mo ‘yong isang araw, parang manghihinayang ka po talaga.”
For anyone juggling work and workouts, Abutas’ story is a reminder: sometimes the best way to recharge isn’t by doing nothing—it’s by moving, running, and finding peace in motion.