Hybrid or Road?

A road bike might just be the ticket. There are plenty of road bikes that offer a relaxed position but that are still much more efficient at covering miles than a hybrid. I'd suggest visiting a few bike shops, telling the people in those bike shops what sort of riding you do so they can hopefully point you to different road bike options, and then hopefully doing some test rides of different bikes.

Road bikes with more relaxed positioning have been growing in number--arguably growing in number very quickly--over the last 3-5 years.

If you plan to use it mostly as a commuter bike with some riding on improved trails (like 'rails to trails'😉, but with occasional road rides, you might want to look at cyclocross bikes. They are closer to a road bike than to a hybrid, but are more sturdy than a straight road bike, with wider tires and usually dual brake levers. These bikes also are easy to put a rack on if you desire. Put a set of campus pedals (such as Forte makes) and you can ride with regular shoes in urban areas or SPD cleats for longer rides in more rural areas.

By the sounds if what your saying definatly go the road bike. Hybrid bikes these days cater for both worlds so if your not going to take it off road stick with a roady.

Could also consider a flat-bar road bike. Gives you some of the benefits of both. or consider a road bike or cx bike that accepts larger/wider tires, so you can get some of the comfort of the bigger tires, with the ability to go more road-aggressive if you choose to.