Valentine's Day is about love right? So...

I spent Valentine's Day doing what I love: running. I ran my 21st half marathon in Apache Junction and got the same time I usually do. The course felt tougher with more hills, as it had changed this year. No more running through sweet neighborhoods with children handing out oranges to the runners. Rather, we ran a lot on pavement and only a small portion on trails. The neighborhood blocked a lot of the head wind, but with the new course, we ran into the wind which really slowed my pace down.

I then biked 25 miles to assist with recovery. I find that biking after a half marathon sort of spins the lactic acid out.

It was a gorgeous near 80 degree day. I was dog sitting all weekend and watched my favorite sport in the world: figure skating. I love the winter Olympics because of skating.

So Valentine's day had lovely weather, running, biking, figure skating and a dog for my date. I couldn't have asked for a better Valentine's day! Except if Curtis Stone had been around, things would have been brighter, but I take what I can get. This year my date was a dog, which is actually more than I can say for last year.

On Saturday I ran a 5K and placed 4th out of 14 in my age group. Small race and tough hill for first 2K, but didn't feel winded like I usually do at the end of a 5K.

This weekend

I have two races this weekend: one short, one half marathon. One of my favorite half marathons is this Sunday and just happens to fall on Valentine's Day this year, the most sickening of all the holidays.

When I was a kid, I loved getting cards for all 30 members of my class and eating candy. In my twenties, I was pretty indifferent to Valentine's Day. I never celebrated it, but didn't care. In my thirties, I have come to loathe this Hallmark holiday. I love the color pink, but hate seeing it plastered over the grocery and drug stores only to be reminded of this dreadful day. I do like conversation hearts, but that is about the only thing I can muster up to say nice about V-day.

But, this year I have this race. A beautiful run through the Superstition mountains in their beautiful brown and reddish colors, along with saguaro cactus lining the course. Part of the run is through neighborhoods in which children come out with buckets of cut up oranges for the runners. The view is spectacular and you feel very much in the heart of the southwest desert and cute spectators cheer on the participants. It isn't a typical asphalt run and I love it.

But, I am dog sitting for my parents who have taken a vacation to San Francisco for the holiday weekend. I do not get President's day off like they do. So the dog will be my date this year and will unfortunately be the only thing I have to talk to Valentine's night.

I will treat myself to the movie appropriately titled Valentine's Day and see Dear John once again and probably again. I will pretend Channing Tatum is my Valentine's day date.

Happy Valentine's Day!