The main purpose of my winter vacation was to follow the Pittsburgh Penguins on their recent road trip to Florida. Of course, along with my hockey jersey, I packed my running shoes.

Planned or unplanned, there are always places to run. Here are my suggestions for Florida routes for your next road trip.

First stop (and first run) was a trip to Fort Lauderdale to watch the Pens play the Panthers in the nearby town of Sunrise. Fort Lauderdale with its crowded streets full of traffic and tourists and beaches lined with high rises can seem like an unlikely place for an enjoyable run.

But the city has spent more than $26 million to renovate Fort Lauderdale Beach, including construction of a beach wavewall along more than two miles of public beach, to make pedestrian pursuits safer and more fun.

Runners have a choice of running on the flat, even pavement or on the soft surface of the wide white sand beach. Running on the paved walk provides access to public drinking fountains along the route while running the beach is more scenic and slightly cooler.

Fort Lauderdale Beach is perfect for running, almost level hard-surfaced, especially if you time your run for low tide. I love to run without shoes as the waves lap at my feet. If you’re not used to barefoot running or are injury-prone, ease into it. Start with a quarter-mile, then add a little more distance each day as your legs and feet strengthen.

If you’d like to add more running mileage, cross the street and pay the $1 pedestrian entry fee to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. This 180-acre park is nestled between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway and offers a 1.9-mile paved loop around the perimeter with views of the waterway and wildlife.

There are also more than 2.5 miles of dirt trails meandering through old-growth forests. Watch out for wildlife, including gopher turtles. Be sure to take a map, as the trails are not well marked.

Following the hockey game, a loss in overtime, I headed to Tampa for game two. On the way, my group made a stop at Sanibel Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Although Sanibel is famous for beaches and shells, it’s also a great place to run, walk and bike.

Sanibel boasts more than 25 miles of bike trails along shady streets and past beach homes and mansions and a 120 year-old lighthouse. If you’re too warm, there are plenty of beach accesses along the route.

Sanibel Island’s bike trail system includes a four-mile loop through J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge, home to alligators, shorebirds, coyotes and more. The park’s two mile crushed stone walking trail is a great way to get some exercise and to view the wildlife without the distraction of cars and bikes.

Our group arrived in Tampa to watch the Penguins play the Lightning. Their loss, though disappointing, didn’t dampen our enthusiasm for sunshine. Our suite on Tampa Bay had an unobstructed view of the water and an easy access to Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail for running and walking.

Courtney Campbell Causeway links bayside Tampa with Clearwater on the Gulf of Mexico. The paved Causeway Trail runs shore to shore 10.5 miles alongside the highway on a separate paved lane. The trail also includes a 45-feet high pedestrian and bike bridge and an access to Ben T. Davis Beach Park.

The park is a great place to kick off your shoes and run through ankle-deep warm water of Tampa Bay. The trail can be windy, so plan your distance and direction wisely.

The Causeway Trail is site of the annual Veteran’s Run for charity with a choice of 5k, 10k, half marathon or 16 miles out and back. It also hosts October’s Tampa Bay Whiskey Run 5k, 10k and half marathon. Both events limit the field to 500 participants due to the width of the trail.

Upcoming events

Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Training for distances up to marathon, starts at All Fit parking area. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday: Cupid’s Undie Run, Pittsburgh. Charity run starts at McFadden’s on Pittsburgh’s Northshore. cupids.org/city/pittsburgh

Feb. 23, 10 a.m.: Spring Thaw, North Park. Choice of 10, 15 or 20 miles in loops around North Park Lake. 412-490-0881 or www.lightspeed-racing.com

Feb. 24, 11 a.m.: PCS Ugly Mudder 7 Mile Trail Run, Reading. rhornpcs@aol.com

March 2, 9 a.m.: PREP4PITT-2, Fredonia. Tropical themed rolling 8.5 mile course with post-race music. 724-301-6775 or races@mctrails.com

March 2, 11 a.m.: 10th Annual Ellport Borough Community Winter Wonderland 5k, Ellwood City. Scenic 5k with indoor award ceremony. 724-758-2506 or bonnherb@yahoo.com

March 9, 9 a.m.: Primary Health Network Charitable Foundation Shamrock ‘N’ Run 5k and 10k, Sharpsville. 724-981-2875 or www.phnfoundation.net/shamrock

March 9, 9 a.m.: March Mad Dash, Allison Park. Choice of 5k, 5 miles, 10 miles with post-race party. 412-490-0881 or register.chronotrack.com/r/44782

March 16, 7:30 a.m.: Shamrock Shuffle Half Marathon, Harmony. Challenging, hilly course. joella@zoominternet.net

March 16, 9 a.m.: St. Patrick’s Distance Festival, Erie. Choice of 5k or 10k starts at Presque Isle State Park’s Rotary Pavilion. Also competitive racewalk awards. 814-460-9930 or erierunners.club/

March 16, 10 a.m.: Shamrock Shuffle 5k Run/Walk and 1 Mile Run/Walk, Harmony. Rolling course. 1 Mile starts at 11 A.M. joella@zoominternet.net

March 16, 10 a.m.: Kiski Area Shamrock Run 5k, Apollo. 724-224-7999

March 16, 10 a.m.: Judith’s Jig 5k Memorial Run/Walk, Meadville. Starts at Diamond Park Square. 814-282-1-69 or judithsjig@gmail.com

March 17, noon: The Saint Patrick’s Day Which Way 5k, Franklin. Choice of two directions to run on Samuel Justice Trail. 814-437-7653 or josh@shawgorealestate.com

March 23, 9:30 a.m.: Mammoth Beer Mile and 5k, Greensburg. Beer mile starts at 11 a.m. Run either event or both at Westmoreland County Fairgrounds. mammothbeermile.com/registration/ or info@flattire.co

March 23, 10 a.m.: Larry Winschel St. Paddy’s Day Run, South Park. Choice of 1 mile, 2.25 miles, 4 miles sponsored by Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners. 412-561-0768

March 24, 8:45 a.m.: Mill Creek Distance Classic Half Marathon and 5 Mile, Youngstown, OH. Ytownrunners.org or 330-727-6070

March 31, 8:30 a.m.: 18th Annual Just a Short Run, Allison Park. Choice of 5k, 8.1 miles, half marathon and 30k starting at North Park Boathouse. www.justashortrun.com/registration or 412-490-0881

April 6, 9 a.m.: Maple Festival 5k Run & Walk & 5 Mile Run, Meyersdale. 814-634-8717 or gmiller1958@yahoo.com

May 5, 7:05 a.m.: Pittsburgh Marathon, Pittsburgh. Full, half or team relay. Also 5k on Saturday. www.thepittsburghmarathon.com

Sept. 29, 8 a.m.: City of Pittsburgh Great Race 5k and 10k, Pittsburgh. Registration is now open at www.rungreatrace.com

Race results

Prep 4 Pitt Series 1- Trout Island Tromp, Feb. 2: Mathew McClellan, 1st Overall M, 28:52; Lynne Beck, 1st Overall W, 38:05; Chrissy Hayes, 3rd Overall W, 39:38; Bob George, 1st 60-64 M, 39:01; Tony Sunseri, 2nd 70+ M, 47:04; Rhonda Maloney, 3rd 50-54 W, 48:31; William Woods, 46:08: Tara Steines, 53:41; Janelle Fumerola, 59:28 `

Cupid’s Chase 5k, Feb. 9: Camden Seybert, 1st Overall M, 19:22; Sarah Thompson, 1st Overall W, 21:59; Todd Foulk, 3rd Overall M, 23:55; Lexie Nieri, 2nd Overall W, 25:23; Justin Strobel, 1st 16-19 M, 24:20; Mitch Radella, 1st 50-54 M, 24:29; John McKivigan, 1st 60-64 M, 25:35; Shawn Ireland, 1st 40-44 M, 26:15; Ben Berdell, 2nd 40-44 M, 27:44; Ethan Eberle, 3rd 40-44 M, 27:51; Nikki Winkler, 1st 35-39 W, 28:54; Dane Winkler, 1st 35-39 M, 29:00; Jim Hrabosky, 2nd 50-54 M, 30:01; Carmen Skal, 1st 13-15 W, 31:27; Alex Oakes, 1st 13-15 M, 31:38; Shannon Gallagher, 1st 25-29 W, 32:10; Erin Kohlmeyer, 3rd 30-34 W, 32:13; Sam Phillippi, 1st 20-24 M, 32:26; Meagan Summerville, 2nd 35-39 W, 36:18; Lisa Faraone, 3rd 35-39 W, 36:23; Tasha Werner, 1st 45-49 W, 38:27; Alyssa Mainhart, 2nd 25-29 W, Rylee Werner, 2nd 13-15 W, 43:28; Emily Meyer, 3rd 13-15 W, 43:31; Adam Steffey, 2nd 20-24 M, 46:05; Mary Fetter, 1st 50-54 W, 49:43; Donna Haus, 2nd 50-54 W, 49:46; Justin Kampian, 3rd 20-24 M, 51:02; Laura Czzowitz, 2nd 45-49 W, 52:39; Michele Sheaffer, 2nd 55-59 W, 52:39; Chloe Blue Fleming, 1st 16-19 W, 52:43; Tracey Fisher, 3rd 55-59 W, 53:05; Kayla Fleming, 3rd 20-24 W, 54:57; Paige Johns, 2nd 16-19 W, 55:54; Vincent Moore, 28:11; Adrienne Genova, 35:23; Marie Myrlie, 38:06; Dhyana Keefer, 43:47; Beth Fleming, 53:43; Sierra Hood, 54:05; Alex Buhite, 55:54

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle