Seems like it’s almost Valentine’s Day. All over the place, love bugs are cozying up to each other for some snuggling. Yes, they’re at least partly motivated by cold weather and the lure of shared body heat, but there’s probably some romance involved too.

The coming week brings several chances for couples to share warmth and quality time in the wild.

One outdoor activity that specifically calls out to couples (sort of) is the Valentine’s Day 5K on Saturday, a race that’s been going on for well over two decades.

Rather than running down busy city streets or uninspiring suburban vistas, this one takes participants through the wooded paths of the Bona Dea Trails and Sanctuary near Russellville. What’s more romantic than a trot through nature?

“It’s a bird sanctuary in the woods,” says race director Tom Aspel. “It’s real laid back.”

True to its name, the Valentine’s Day 5K welcomes and encourages couples to go head-to-head and even gives them their own category: the Sweetheart Competition, in which couples can compete together for Valentine’s-themed gift baskets.

Aspel says, “It’s just fun to get couples in there.”

But they don’t rule the day. Not everyone likes Valentine’s Day anyway, and lovey-dovey coupledom may be fun for some but an annoyance for others, especially if they’re trying to get some exercise.

This is a serious race, timed and part of the Arkansas Grand Prix, and most of the participants are singles, so the hearts-and-flowers-averse shouldn’t worry about signing up.

The trail is flat with few distractions and provides a course that often leads to fast times. Aspel holds the event’s male masters record - 15:52 - set in 1996. Other record holders are Wayne Stanley, fastest man overall at 15:14; Leah Thorvilson, fastest woman at 17:02; and Jean Hollander, fastest masters woman at 20:35.

The race is divided into heats with separate mass starts for male masters, female masters and for females 39 and younger and then males 39 and younger. The male masters take off at 9 a.m. and the other groups follow, each a half hour after the group before.

Once adult races are over, children get a turn. Not only isit close to Valentine’s Day, the race also takes place during National Children’s Dental Month. So children will receive some tooth-friendly awards in addition to the T-shirts and medals.

“If the weather is cold, we don’t get many because the moms won’t let them run,” Aspel says. “When it’s good, we get 60 to 70 kids” in the kiddie race.

The Bona Dea Trailhead is at Exit 81 off Interstate 40 near Russellville. Registration costs $20 in advance, $25 race day and free for children.

Course information and a link to online registration are at arkrrca.com, and Aspel’s number is (479) 857-4527.

Mountaintop rendezvous

When it comes to romance, one day isn’t enough at Petit Jean State Park. They’ve been devoting a full weekend to lovebirds since the 1980s with Hikes, Hearts and Hugs Weekends.

This year’s event is Feb. 14-16 and includes plenty of opportunities for couples to get fresh air and take in some lovely scenery.

Romance and Petit Jean go hand in hand, as anyone who knows the legend of Petit Jean can attest. That story and many more will be part of the programs planned for the weekend.

Actually, the mountain has been billed as a romantic destination for quite a while. Around the turn of the last century, park interpreter Rachel Engebrecht says, there was a hotel on Petit Jean that was advertised as an ideal spot for honeymooners.

A field trip to Stout’s Point, which Engebrecht says is “considered one of the most romantic locations in the park because that’s the Petit Jean gravesite overlook,” should be a Hearts and Hugs highlight, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 15.

For couples looking for something on the more strenuous side, there’s a Cedar Falls Trail hike at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 15. And to really ramp up the romance factor, there’s a sunset stroll at the Richter Memorial Overlook at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15.

The final hike, to a natural bridge at 2 p.m. Feb. 16, will include a search for the stone that weather has shaped into a heart, somewhere on the Seven Hollows Trail.

Guests should be on the lookout for love birds of a different sort since the park is also throwing in some bird counting to coincide with the Audubon Society’s annual Great Backyard Bird Count (see birdsource.org).

Outdoor activities aside, the highlight of the weekend is usually the Sweethearts’ Dinner in Mather Lodge, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 14, complete with a special menu and glasses of white muscadine juice (the park is alcohol-free).

At press time, reservations were fully booked for the $35 dinner, but there could be cancellations. And since the lodge will be open for regular business, couples are always welcome to come to the dining room and order off the menu “like normal people.”

All programs aside from the dinner are free, and no reservations are required.

Call (501) 727-5441 or visit petitjeanstatepark.com.

Tune in

What’s more romantic than getting in touch with feelings? Losing oneself in nature?

In today’s high-tech world, it’s not always easy, but Mississippi River State Park, on Arkansas 44 near Marianna, provides a little remedial assistance in its Use Your Senses Hike, 3 p.m. Saturday.

Interpreter Tara Gillanders, who leads the hike, says, “This is a perfect way to unplug from the electric world and plug into nature using all the different senses of our bodies.”

The hike will be a short, easy one along the park’s Trotting Fox Trail, a new, ADA-accessible path with a very gentle slope. Participants should be able to focus more on their senses than on the fear of falling.

Along the way, Gillanders will encourage hikers to concentrate on smell, hearing and touch - within reason and with a very important precaution.

“We’re very careful not to touch any poison ivy. I do try to point out the poison ivy before we get started.”

And taste is usually left out, unless they stumble upon a nice persimmon.

Gillanders says she often passes out cards, clipboards and pencils for participants to write down their experiences and to do rubbings of tree bark and leaves.

“It’s just a great way to engage with nature,” she says, “getting them to really explore using those other senses to really get the full picture of the habitat we’re walking through.”

Admission is free. Call (870) 295-4040 or visit arkansasstateparks.com.

ActiveStyle, Pages 28 on 02/03/2014