Anyone who has ever hiked or biked with me will know that I like Coke.  I save that for days when I exercise for more than a couple of hours (because, really, all that sugar shouldn’t be consumed on a daily basis!).  It’s a great treat at the top of a peak or end of a ride; the fizzy, sugary concoction does more than most energy drinks and gels for me.  I think it’s also a Pavlovian thing: hearing that “crack” of the can opening signals that whatever physical pursuit of the day has been attained.

I tend to pack a “baby” Coke (7.5 oz) in my pack on hikes and rides.  One such occasion was a last-minute scrambling hike in Red Rock Canyon at the end of July.  It was hot and we did a lot of climbing.  At our goal, I cracked open my can of Coke, then asked one of my group to take a picture of me holding my liquid gold.  I joked that I should send the picture to Coke….then promptly did that when I got home.  One month later, I got an email saying that my picture was featured on the Coke website (along with hundreds of others)!  A month after that, I received an email from one of Coke’s social media writers, asking if I would consent to a short interview for her upcoming article on hikers and their favourite treats.  Today, I got to read the completed story and here is the link:

http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/post-hike-rewards-what-trekkers-like-to-eat-and-drink-at-the-end-of-a-long-trail

[Disclaimer: No royalties or any compensation of any sort was exchanged between the Coca-Cola company and myself….but I am open to negotiations!]