Started at the Joliet Trailhead off of Rowell Ave just after 5:00 AM and headed south to the Kankakee River. Jason Crowe rode his bicycle with me and carried water/Gatorade and gels. My initial plan was to run 10 mile segments followed by a 1 mile hike/power walk. After 50k I hit a bit of a low and started to cramp. I had to incorporate some more walking on the return trip to ensure I wouldn't have a big blow up. Crowe rode into Manhattan to grab me a Coke from a gas station and that really lifted my spirits. That kept the cramps at bay for the final 8 miles and helped me rally to the finish line. Kevin established one heck of a time last November and it was a big challenge to bring it home under 7 hours. I'm excited to see who will lower this FKT in the future!