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“No,� Dale said, “We’re just following a crazy guy running across the U.S.�

That guy is Pete Kostelnick, and he’s attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of America on foot. To do so he’ll need to make it from San Francisco to New York City in less than 46 days, 8 hours and 36 minutes. His goal is to finish on Oct. 26.

Kostelnick is doing well, and, after finishing Day 24 on Wednesday a few miles east of York, said he’s about 50 miles ahead of the record pace, even though he took one day off.

He’s likely to be energized over the next few days, running through Lincoln, where he lives, and through his home state of Iowa.

Kostelnick was to set out at 4 a.m. on Thursday, making his way along U.S. 34 through Seward. He could reach Lincoln by late morning, and will run past his Lincoln home and down Superior Street before heading toward Waverly. (You can track his location at ). He may end the day near Greenwood.

Dale and Hart will be there as part of the four-person support crew for the entire 3,100-mile trip. Cinder Wolff is the cook and massage therapist, and since reaching Nebraska, she’s been making steak dinners because people keep showing up to the RV and donating meat. Trasie Phan helps with the logistics of the route and updates the website.

Pete Kostelnick finishes another 72.4 mile day east of York. He's coming for you tomorrow Lincoln.

— Brent Wagner (@LJSSportsWagner)

Hart and Dale get Kostelnick drinks -- sometimes he goes for a Diet Coke -- and snacks about every 2 miles now, less frequent than when he was running in the mountains.

“We feed and water him,� the duo often jokes.

The crew updates Kostelnick on the route, and they keep the mood light with jokes.

Hart, who lives in Kentucky, also handles medical care. Kostelnick had a blister early in his venture, caused by a rock in his shoe that he knew was there but didn’t stop to remove.

“We had a long talk, and that mistake won’t be made anymore," Hart said. "It’s like, ‘Damn, Pete, one little blister could have ended the whole thing.’�

Pete Kostelnick with help from his crew running west of York today.

— Brent Wagner (@LJSSportsWagner)

Dale and Hart have had a couple of close calls, too.

Their car got stuck in some sand in Nevada. One of them took off running with supplies for Kostelnick. The other got the car pulled out with the help of a passing truck.

And just after they started in San Francisco, they were trying to weave their way down narrow streets and ended up on the trolley track.

“I was right in the middle of the tracks, and I didn’t know it,� Dale said.

Kostelnick passed the run's halfway mark near Lexington on Tuesday morning. Dale and Hart have each been on the crew for other runners who have made cross-country runs, and have been impressed with how Kostelnick is doing.

“We had the rest day, and then he came back the next day and busted 70 (miles) out like it was no problem, and since then he’s been trucking,� said Dale, who lives in Arkansas. “It looks like his body is building armor. Like his calves have gotten bigger. He’s just determined, and it really pumps him up when people come out. If he’s out there by himself, he starts getting in his head.�

Kostelnick is hoping people will be inspired by what he is doing and be active, but this race is for him.

“Really, two reasons,� Kostelnick replied when asked why he’s doing this. “I’m very competitive, so I want to break the record. I’d love to have that record. Also, just the whole culture of the run. Growing up, my family would drive everywhere for vacations. It was a family of seven, so flying wasn’t really an option. So we would drive to national parks and everywhere. We’ve even driven to Alaska. So I just love seeing the country via the road. I think there was a movie, I think it was "National Lampoon’s Vacation," where they say, ‘Getting there is half the fun.’ I just love seeing the towns and meeting people.�

Kostelnick was joined by several runners Wednesday as he headed from Hampton to York. It was on one of his best days, along with one day last week near Fort Collins, Colorado.

He covered one mile in 7 minutes, 55 seconds near the end of a 72.4-mile day that began at 4 a.m. near Gibbon and ended just before 5 p.m.

“The support was amazing, and having so many different people to run with,� Kostelnick said. “The day just seems to go by so much faster when I strike up multiple conversations with multiple people. There were some days where I’d run the entire day with one runner, and they’d be a good runner and a good friend, but there were sections where you kind of run dry on conversation. Today, especially in the afternoon, it just went by so quick because there were about six different people I was able to talk to.�