I'm reading Step by Step : A Pedestrian Memoir by Lawrence Block and the following paragraph mentions a place in Nebraska called "Hare’s Breath":
The business of walking substantial distances in competition with others has been with us for a long time, and in the nineteenth century, much as it may strain credulity, the six–day walking race was a spectator sport. There were races held from one city to another, and occasional races that spanned the entire country, and I can understand why residents of Hare’s Breath, Nebraska, might gather at the stop sign to see a walker passing through, but a more typical event was held in a stadium, with walkers circling a quarter–mile cinder track for 144 hours.
Since I can't find a place called Hare's Breath in Nebraska, I'm very confused if this is some kind of joke or is there really such a place. If it's a joke, what is he joking about and why Nebraska? Can anybody explain the idea for me?