By ascending the gray steps of New York’s City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Monday, ultrarunner Pete Kostelnick officially crushed the world record for fastest run across America.

The 29-year-old from Lincoln, Nebraska, left San Francisco’s City Hall on September 12—his birthday—at 8 a.m. He then headed east for 3,067 miles, completing the trek in 42 days, 6 hours, and 30 minutes. The feat is unprecedented, and ends one of the oldest ultrarunning records recognizThe previous mark, set in 1980 by a shoe salesman named Frank Giannino Jr., was 46 days, 8 hours, and 36 minutes. Kostelnick, aided by a four-person crew, averaged more than 72 miles a day to break the record by more than four days.

“I need a beer and my wife right now," Kostelnick said after finishing his run. He said he hadn't seen his wife, Nikki, in six weeks and had missed their anniversary earlier this month.

Kostelnick kept a rigid routine, sleeping in an RV on the route until 3 a.m. He would then run 40 miles in roughly seven hours—a nine- to 10-minute per-mile pace. He’d take a short break for lunch, then continue for 30 miles or more into the night. He spent upwards of 14 hours running each day for six straight weeks.

Even with thousands of miles behind him, Kostelnick saved his longest day for the final stretch. He started running at midnight Monday from Columbia, New Jersey, and put in 87 miles until he reached his finish line in New York City. Kostelnick only had two days where he ran less than 70 miles, and he only took one full rest day early in trip.

Pete Kostelnick heads east toward New York City, averaging 70 miles a day on back roads across the country. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TRASIE PHAN

A support van leap-frogged ahead every mile to two miles, providing hydration and food during the segments. Kostelnick battled snowstorms in Utah and 35-mph winds across the plains. In the early morning dark on October 16, his support van was struck by another vehicle. Nobody was injured, but the van was totaled. Despite the setback, he completed more than 70 miles that day while his crew rushed to find a replacement vehicle.

The trans-American record has eluded renowned ultrarunners for more than three decades. This year alone, three high-profile attempts have failed in their attempts to break the mark. Lisa Smith-Batchen, who had previously broken the record for fastest time to run 50 miles in all 50 states, was forced to drop out of her trans-America attempt because of an emergency gallbladder surgery. Ultrarunning newcomer Adam Kimblefinished the trek, but missed the record by more than a week. And British ultrarunner Robert Young dropped out in Indianapolis this summer, sidelined with a broken foot and dogged by cheating allegations. An investigation released in early October concluded Young received “unauthorized assistance” during his attempt.

Aware of the heightened scrutiny placed on legitimizing the record attempt, Kostelnick posted GPS data daily and broadcast his live location on his website.

Kostelnick traveled from San Francisco’s City Hall to New York City Hall in lower Manhattan to match Giannino’s original starting and end points.

The latest accolade bolsters Kostelnick’s impressive ultrarunning resume. The Hoka-sponsored athlete has won the brutal, 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon twice. He holds the course record in 21 hours, 56 minutes, and 32 seconds.