Draft:Nicholas Steel

Nicholas Steel running at the 2024 Fire Tower Trail 100k.

Nicholas Steel is a 22 year old American ultra runner known for his rapid rise in the sport of ultra running. Beginning his competitive career in 2023, Steel has completed a series of notable ultramarathon and triathlon events, achieving significant milestones in a short period. He is recognized for his persistence, self-supported runs, and record-setting performances.

Early Career and First Ultramarathon (2023)

Steel entered the sport of ultra running in August 2023. His first ultramarathon was held on August 20, 2023, in Mankato, Minnesota, where he completed the backyard ultra format at Red Jacket Lake. The race consisted of 13 loops of a 4.22-mile course, totaling 54.91 miles. This race was completed in a self-supported format, with Steel running without external assistance. His performance marked the beginning of his ultra running career.

Attempt at 100 Miles (2023)

Following his initial race, Steel set his sights on completing a 100-mile run. On October 1, 2023, he embarked on a self-supported attempt to complete 100 miles. Despite facing hot weather and course challenges, which included significant elevation, Steel was unable to finish the event. However, the experience provided valuable insights into race planning and preparation.

Successful 100-Mile Run (2023)

Steel attempted the 100-mile distance again on October 21, 2023, in Mankato. This time, he completed 104.93 miles in 22 hours, 23 minutes, and 32 seconds, marking his first successful 100-mile run. The event was fully self-supported, with Steel navigating the roads and trails of Mankato without external assistance.

Queeny Backyard Ultra (2024)

In March 2024, Steel participated in the Queeny Backyard Ultra in St. Louis, Missouri. The race followed the Backyard ultra format, where participants must complete a 4.19-mile loop each hour. Steel finished 26 loops (108.94 miles) and placed 11th out of 94 participants. This performance was his first in a larger, official race setting.

Ironman Triathlon Events (2024)

In 2024, Steel expanded his endurance pursuits by competing in Ironman triathlons. On July 8, 2024, he completed a solo, self-supported Ironman distance triathlon, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon run. He followed this with an official Ironman distance triathlon on August 11, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he finished 23rd out of 69 participants with a time of 12 hours, 42 minutes, and 26 seconds.

Mankato to Shakopee Run (2024)

On September 14, 2024, Steel undertook a solo, self-supported run from Mankato to Shakopee, Minnesota and back, a distance of 133.57 miles. Starting from the Buffalo statue in downtown Mankato at 3:45 PM, he completed the journey to Shakopee in 12 hours, 31 minutes, and 28 seconds. After reaching the downtown mural in Shakopee Steel turned around and returned to Mankato, completing the round trip in 31 hours, 50 minutes, and 26 seconds. Steel became the first and only person in history to complete the run from Mankato to Shakopee and back. This run was part of his preparation for the tBunk Endurance Challenge in November 2024.

Fire Tower Trail Races (2024)

On October 5, 2024, Steel participated in the Fire Tower Trail Races in Hinckley, Minnesota, a 100-kilometer race. He finished in first place with an official time of 10 hours, 35 minutes, and 9 seconds, marking his first career victory in an ultramarathon event.

tBunk Endurance Challenge (2024)

Steel's most notable achievement came on November 9, 2024, when he completed the tBunk Endurance Challenge in Whitewater, Wisconsin, a 150.7-mile race in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest. He finished in first place with a time of 35 hours, 2 minutes, and 50 seconds, completing the entire course without sleep. Steel became the youngest person in history to complete 150 miles in under 36 hours, marking a significant milestone in the ultra running community.

Personal Style and Training

Steel is known for his self-supported runs, where he completes long-distance events without external aid, carrying his own supplies and relying on his ability to navigate and pace himself. His training regimen includes a combination of physical endurance training and psychological preparation, which helps him manage the mental challenges of ultra running. Steel focuses on mental resilience, coping strategies for extreme fatigue, and the ability to push through discomfort during prolonged events.

Favorite Motivational Quotes

Steel has been inspired by a variety of motivational quotes throughout his ultra running journey. Below are some of his favorite quotes, including both those from others and original sayings by Steel himself.

Quotes by Others:

• "Your future is not written yet." – Aleksandr Sorokin
• "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising after every fall." – Confucius
• "I don't want to live the wrong life and die." – Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel)
• "At the centre of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want." – Lao Tzu
• "The greatest discovery in life is self discovery." – Myles Munroe
• "Sometimes, you just have to feel the fear and do it anyway." – Orion and the Dark (Emma Yarlett)
• "Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; rage, rage against the dying of the light." – Dylan Thomas

Quotes by Nicholas Steel:

• "Your body can handle far more than your mind will allow." – Nicholas Steel
• "Facing your fears will draw out the untold version of yourself." – Nicholas Steel
• "Darkness only consumes those who allow themselves to be fearful of it." – Nicholas Steel
• "You can replace the shoes, but your body will retain the miles." – Nicholas Steel

Achievements and Records

Nicholas Steel has rapidly established himself as a prominent figure in the ultra running and endurance sports communities. His achievements span across ultramarathons, self-supported runs, and triathlon events. Below is a summary of his most significant accomplishments and records:

Ultramarathon Performances:

• August 2023 Solo Backyard Ultramarathon (Mankato, Minnesota): Steel completed 13 loops of a 4.22-mile course, totaling 54.91 miles in the backyard race format. This marked his first ultramarathon.
• October 2023 100-Mile Attempt (Mankato, Minnesota): Steel attempted a self-supported 100-mile run but was unable to complete the race due to hot weather and challenging terrain.
• October 2023 100-Mile Success (Mankato, Minnesota): On a second attempt, Steel completed 104.93 miles in 22 hours, 23 minutes, and 32 seconds in a self-supported race, marking his first successful 100-mile finish.
• 2024 Quenny Backyard Ultra (St. Louis, Missouri): Steel finished 26 loops (108.94 miles) in 26 hours, placing 11th out of 94 participants.
• 2024 Fire Tower Trail Races (Hinkley, Minnesota): Steel secured his first career first-place finish in a 100-kilometer race with a time of 10 hours, 35 minutes, and 9 seconds.
• 2024 tBunk Endurance Challenge (Whitewater, Wisconsin): Steel completed a 150.7-mile race in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest, finishing first in 35 hours, 2 minutes, and 50 seconds without sleep. He became the youngest person to complete 150 miles in under 36 hours.

Self-Supported and Unprecedented Runs:

• Mankato to Shakopee Run (2024).: Steel became the first person in history to complete the self-supported run from Mankato, Minnesota to Shakopee, Minnesota and back, covering 133.57 miles in 31 hours, 50 minutes, and 26 seconds. The run was part of his preparation for the tBunk Endurance Challenge

Triathlon Achievements:

• 2024 Solo Ironman Distance Triathlon: Steel completed a self-supported Ironman triathlon, covering 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling, and a 26.2-mile marathon run in 13 hours, 45 minutes, and 29 seconds.
• 2024 Ironman Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, Michigan): Steel finished the official Ironman distance triathlon in 12 hours, 42 minutes, and 26 seconds, placing 23rd out of 69 participants.

Records:

• Youngest Person to Complete 150 Miles in Under 36 Hours: Steel became the youngest person to finish 150 miles in under 36 hours during the tBunk Endurance Challenge, a significant milestone in ultra running.