{"id":10480,"date":"2026-04-09T23:40:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T23:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=10480"},"modified":"2026-04-09T23:40:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T23:40:36","slug":"expand-your-running-horizons-with-road-to-trail-routes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=10480","title":{"rendered":"Expand Your Running Horizons with Road-to-Trail Routes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>Here\u2019s why\u2014and how\u2014to add mixed terrain adventures to your runs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\">Brooks Ghost Trail.<!-- --> (Photo: Brooks Running)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Updated April 9, 2026 04:22PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cMy main motto is to get outside and move your body in a way that feels good,\u201d says <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/abi.cado\/\">Abi Cado<\/a>, 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, \u201cRunning as a girl who doesn\u2019t like running.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"width:100%;border:none;display:block\" title=\"Script Content\" async=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>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. \u201cI can just go explore and wander,\u201d she says. \u201cThere are hidden gems everywhere. You can literally just be running and see a trail and say, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m gonna go take that path.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Like Cado, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/laurensbigadventure\/\">Lauren Gastineau<\/a> 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. \u201cIt\u2019s a mix of pavement, gravel, and singletrack trails through the woods,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd you can run it year-round.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"width:100%;border:none;display:block\" title=\"Script Content\" async=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Both women have some advice\u2014and routes\u2014to share when it comes to expanding your running horizons.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Get Started<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>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. \u201cI could either sit there or run with her,\u201d 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\u2014the speed of road racing and the scenery of the trail\u2014and likes to hit both environments in one run, which she often does.<\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"width:100%;border:none;display:block\" title=\"Script Content\" async=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>The point is that it doesn\u2019t 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:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Emphasize variety.<\/strong> All runners, from beginners to pros, benefit from a mix of terrain, distances, and pace.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be flexible.<\/strong> If it feels better to run-walk-run at times, do it. You want to ease in and avoid injury.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Choose good gear.<\/strong> The right shoes boost comfort and confidence. Both Gastineau and Cado like the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/sr.studiostack.com\/c\/link?l=2300494&amp;s=2300490\">Brooks Ghost Trail<\/a> for its versatility on mixed surfaces.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make it social.<\/strong> Whether you join a club or just connect with a friend, running with others helps you stick to a schedule (plus, it\u2019s fun).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Venture Off Pavement<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Both Gastineau and Cado understand that trail running\u2014at least the <i>idea<\/i> of it\u2014can be intimidating to new runners and road runners. But that\u2019s because most people don\u2019t 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. \u201cHaving to drive somewhere can serve as a barrier,\u201d she says. \u201cBut finding nearby routes with road and trail sections allows exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"width:100%;border:none;display:block\" title=\"Script Content\" async=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Cado says that it\u2019s important to remember that there aren\u2019t any rules for running. \u201cI feel like that was my problem for a while, like I had to hit a certain mileage or elevation or incline,\u201d she says. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t matter. Especially with road-to-trail routes, just go run, walk, both.\u201d Cado also suggests going with a friend or joining a run club, which can help you feel more confident.<\/p>\n<h2><b>The Right Shoes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Another thing both women agree on: The right shoes make a big difference. They like the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/sr.studiostack.com\/c\/link?l=2300492&amp;s=2300490\">Brooks Ghost Trail<\/a> for its ability to transition from pavement to trails and back. \u201cI love how lightweight it is,\u201d Cado says. \u201cA lot of trail shoes can feel bulky, but the Ghost Trail feels really smooth and runnable, while still having the necessary grip.\u201d She says they\u2019re the perfect choice for a route that takes her from the road to the sandy dirt trails of Annie\u2019s Canyon along the Pacific Coast Highway.<\/p>\n<p>Gastineau says that she loves how responsive the Ghost Trail has proven on her training runs. \u201cIt feels like a road shoe but has the traction for the trails,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd it doesn\u2019t feel firm and flat like a lot of trail running shoes can. It still runs smoothly on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><b>Top Routes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Here, Gastineau and Cado share some of their favorite hometown road-to-trail routes. Download the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mapmyrun.com\/\">MapMyRun<\/a> app and follow their lead\u2014and create your own routes wherever you run.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lauren Gastineau: Bend, OR<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Abi Cado: Encinitas, CA<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><i>Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Brooks makes performance running gear for runners everywhere. Propelled by a never\u2011ending curiosity with how humans move, Brooks designs gear to make every run, walk, and workout better than before. To learn more, visit<\/i><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/sr.studiostack.com\/c\/link?l=2300496&amp;s=2300490\"> <i>BrooksRunning.com<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-gear\/run\/expand-your-running-horizons-with-road-to-trail-routes\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s why\u2014and how\u2014to add mixed terrain adventures to your runs Brooks Ghost Trail. (Photo: Brooks Running) Updated April 9, 2026 04:22PM \u201cMy main motto is to get outside and move your body in a way that feels good,\u201d says Abi Cado, who has inspired fans by honestly sharing her two-year journey from run-hater to run-lover.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-10480","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wild-living"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10480"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10480\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}