Expand Your Running Horizons with Road-to-Trail Routes

“My main motto is to get outside and move your body in a way that feels good,” says Abi Cado, who has inspired fans by honestly sharing her two-year journey from run-hater to run-lover. She chronicled her progression in an Instagram series she called, “Running as a girl who doesn’t like running.”

Slowly but surely, the freedom of running, and its many benefits for mind, body, and soul, converted Cado, and she fell in love with the sport. Now, she routinely runs mixed terrain around her coastal home in Encinitas, California, and appreciates the sense of discovery it brings. “I can just go explore and wander,” she says. “There are hidden gems everywhere. You can literally just be running and see a trail and say, ‘Oh, I’m gonna go take that path.’”

Like Cado, Lauren Gastineau loves the adventure of running, and is similarly driven to inspire others. Gastineau loves road-to-trail routes that offer a little bit of everything. Her favorite run in her hometown of Bend, Oregon, is the Deschutes River Trail. “It’s a mix of pavement, gravel, and singletrack trails through the woods,” she says. “And you can run it year-round.”

Both women have some advice—and routes—to share when it comes to expanding your running horizons.

Get Started

You could say Gastineau was raised as a runner. Her mom, a marathoner, would take her to the track so she could keep an eye on her youngster while she did her workouts. “I could either sit there or run with her,” Gastineau says. She chose the latter, and by second grade, she was running three continuous miles. She never stopped, and today is training for a road half-marathon this spring and a 50K trail race in the summer. She loves both kinds of running—the speed of road racing and the scenery of the trail—and likes to hit both environments in one run, which she often does.

Cado, though she started running later in life, has also jumped in with both feet. She started a run club (New Chapter Run Club) and is running her second marathon this spring. Her daily running routes consist of paved coastal rail trails that lead to sandy paths, flat trails that encircle coastal lagoons, and scenic runs along the oceanfront.

The point is that it doesn’t matter when you start running, or how fast or far you run. What matters is getting started. And for that, here are a few tips for new runners:

• Emphasize variety. All runners, from beginners to pros, benefit from a mix of terrain, distances, and pace.
• Be flexible. If it feels better to run-walk-run at times, do it. You want to ease in and avoid injury.
• Choose good gear. The right shoes boost comfort and confidence. Both Gastineau and Cado like the Brooks Ghost Trail for its versatility on mixed surfaces.
• Make it social. Whether you join a club or just connect with a friend, running with others helps you stick to a schedule (plus, it’s fun).

Venture Off Pavement

Both Gastineau and Cado understand that trail running—at least the idea of it—can be intimidating to new runners and road runners. But that’s because most people don’t understand how easy it is to start with accessible, mellow trails. Gastineau recommends exploring routes close to home instead of driving hours away to a mountain trailhead. “Having to drive somewhere can serve as a barrier,” she says. “But finding nearby routes with road and trail sections allows exploration.”

Cado says that it’s important to remember that there aren’t any rules for running. “I feel like that was my problem for a while, like I had to hit a certain mileage or elevation or incline,” she says. “But it doesn’t matter. Especially with road-to-trail routes, just go run, walk, both.” Cado also suggests going with a friend or joining a run club, which can help you feel more confident.

The Right Shoes

Another thing both women agree on: The right shoes make a big difference. They like the Brooks Ghost Trail for its ability to transition from pavement to trails and back. “I love how lightweight it is,” Cado says. “A lot of trail shoes can feel bulky, but the Ghost Trail feels really smooth and runnable, while still having the necessary grip.” She says they’re the perfect choice for a route that takes her from the road to the sandy dirt trails of Annie’s Canyon along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Gastineau says that she loves how responsive the Ghost Trail has proven on her training runs. “It feels like a road shoe but has the traction for the trails,” she says. “And it doesn’t feel firm and flat like a lot of trail running shoes can. It still runs smoothly on the road.”

Top Routes

Here, Gastineau and Cado share some of their favorite hometown road-to-trail routes. Download the MapMyRun app and follow their lead—and create your own routes wherever you run.

Lauren Gastineau: Bend, OR

Abi Cado: Encinitas, CA

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Brooks makes performance running gear for runners everywhere. Propelled by a never‑ending curiosity with how humans move, Brooks designs gear to make every run, walk, and workout better than before. To learn more, visit BrooksRunning.com.