Your heart thanks you

Today's Valentine's event ideas are focused on getting your heart pumping -- through exercise. And you can join in on them with your sweetie or just a pal.

Remember no-pants day on Metro? On the day before Valentine's, you have another chance to be in public in your briefs, but this time, it's for a good cause. Cupid's Undies Run turns a two-mile loop around the Capitol into a fundraiser for the Children's Tumor Foundation. If you register ($30) but can't quite brave the cold and/or stripping down that far, you can hang out at the Pour House, which is hosting drink specials and food.

Two Montgomery County rinks have a perfect cheap date idea for Feb. 12. For just $6.25, you and a partner on the ice can rent skates and glide around the rink. The two-for-one deal runs from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Wheaton rink and 8:15 to 10:15 p.m. at the Cabin John rink.

The very young can catch the Valentine's Day spirit, too. One of the area's most adorable events for 3- to 8-year-olds is the Animal Sweethearts Dance at Hidden Pond Nature Center, where you'll find dancing and a limbo contest to get kids moving. (The educational component comes in via the inventive center's original play "Pest Side Story," the tale of the star-crossed pest-control worker Tony and animal-lover Maria.) Held on Feb. 14, this event usually fills up early, so make your reservation now: call 703-451-9588.

-- Anne Kenderdine