I really like it at a race. Caffiene and sugar can do wonders for pick me up on the final run. The bubbles feel good too...burping can help settle the stomach as well (I know not everyone will agree with me on this last part, as many folks will opt for flat pop).

Quite a few marathons break out the coke at around 21-22 miles, the sugar, about 14% carbs, and the caffienne are a nice jolt when your starting to drag, most energy drinks are at about 7% carbs, so thats quite a blast.

Mixing with water cuts down on the syrupy mouth aftertaste, throw in a couple of mini snickers, a handfull of gummi bears and you're good to go for those last 4 miles. :)

I'm not sure why it is there... but I'm glad it is! Things I never thought I'd have running are coke and chicken soup broth, and both were wonderful during my first IM!

Edit: and yes it was new on race day... but I have a fairly iron gut and listen to what I crave out of what the aid station people advertise and it has worked for me so far.

I'm with kyillee - the Coke at the end of the run was great at IMWI - I thought that the broth would be nice - some warmth would have been welcome at IMWI last year! - but it unsettled my stomach just a bit - but the Coke settled it back down and was a boost.
Both were new things on race day - so broke a cardinal rule.
The soggy (rain-soaked) pretzels were at treat too! :rolleyes:

Back in the dark ages of running...before tri's and such...defizzed coke was the energy drink of choice. Most olympic marathoners used it...many pro's still do. It's been a staple at the JFK 50 miler for 40 years...There was no gatorade then and ,well water only goes so far. Basically liquid carbs. I avoid it generally but love a coke or Pepsi during a long tri or ultra. It is a time tested and honored staple...with good reason. During a long race you might have a cup or two...hardly worth fretting over and the results are just awesome.

No wonder it helps me get through the night shift! JK. Coffee is my choice, but I do love that page. There in lies the reason for the obesity epidemic and seeing people at younger ages with osteopenia/osteoporosis.

Everyday - no. Race - sure, why not. Adds to the euphoric feeling at the end. Go dopamine!

I've often heard that it also helps to calm stomaches during long efforts, which is wierd because it's an acid.

That's amazing... Coke is able to corrode sooo many things. I can't believe they let us drink it. I think it also happens to be the same pH as the stomach... Corrode on I suppose. :rolleyes:

As to why it works on an upset stomach, my theory is upset stomachs are sometimes caused by too much acid, i.e., lower pH than coke. So when you add coke, it dilutes the acid and actually causes the pH to rise and making the stomach less acidic.

What do you think Doc? How far off am I?

coke was originally designed as a cough medicine and general ailment to sickness back in the day. i hear that it originally had ingredients from the cocoa leaf thats used to make cocaine! no wonder it makes the last few K's seem OK!!

Okay.... I can't fathom why coke would do any benefit during a tolling physical event. As that site showed us... coke has caffeine... we'll give it that. But as for all the additives (color etc) and the ridiculous amount of sugar it just doesn't seem it would be that beneficial.
During a time like this the body is looking to be replenished not shell shocked from up and down insulin levels (which occurs not only with sugar but caffeine as well... double whammy!)

We have made terrific advances in nutrition and even in the last 3 years about every store has some form of 100% juice (again with the obesity epidemic... who ever knew all that added sugar was hiding in juice?). I wouldn't even be a big fan of gatorade which also hosts a lot of added junk.

Discoveries they have made about coke are much like discoveries they have made about cigarettes. 30 years ago we were just starting to understand the relationship between tobacco use and disease. 30 years ago people only made the association that coke was fizzy, sugary, and gave a pick-up without the coffee taste:)

Now if people choose coke bc it is their drink of choice that is fine. However, if it is offered at races for nutritional value I can think of many other options that would do the body a lot more good.

I guess that with being new to this I am surprised that coke and some of these other items (cookies, donuts etc) would be the "choice" feed during a race. Let's crack out some simple sugars that the body can actually use!