I was traveling on business to Venice Fl earlier this week and as always carried my running stuff. I've been going there off and on for about a year now and usually run on the streets or the beach. But, I recently found a trail that is really nice and runs along the waterway. It's a rails to trails project called the Legacy Trail:

"Totaling more than 12 miles in length the trail runs from just south of the City of Sarasota to Venice following the former CSX railroad corridor."

It isn't complete yet -- there are at least  two railroad bridges still to be replaced. But running from my hotel to the Venice Train Depot and then on the trail, south to the Gulf and back gave me a decent 8 mile run. Very flat. Paved. And the occasional Manatee siting as well as lots of cool birds (well, cool to me as a visitor).

I don't know how long it will take to complete, but I'm looking forward to it. It's a wonderful run.