SPORTS WRAP
How do you top last year’s athletic accomplishments? Faced with that question, Nick Steel (Owatonna High School class of 2020) basically doubled down. After completing 18, 100-mile running events in 2025, the ultramarathoner has tasked himself with completing 30 such events in 2026.
Wasting little time, he ran back-to-back 100-mile events on Jan. 1-2 in Arizona.
Steel tackles these runs to prove what can be done if you believe. “I want to show people you can do anything you set your mind to… If you just find your passion for something, give all your love to it, you can make something great out of it. Your body can handle far more than your mind will allow,” he said.
By no means does this mean these are easy for the 23-year-old. “Every single 100-miler that I have completed, there have been some negative thoughts in there. There’s been some self-doubts. But that’s one of the things you just have to overcome.”
In addition to enjoying the beauty of the course, it takes some creativity to entertain himself. “If I see a cool rock, I pick it up. If I see a really cool tree, I might give it a hug. I film these YouTube videos in the process. It’s little bits of me being my goofy self,” said Steel.
Steel ran cross country and track at OHS but didn’t love distance events at that time. “I used to dread going for three-mile runs.”
After going through some tough times at college in Mankato, he found his way back to running. “I just wanted to be myself again. So, I started to run again, and more and more… It went from square zero up all the way up to the ultramarathon state.”
His original plan for 2025 was to complete 16 100-mile events, which he did before ending the year with a couple more, including a 200-miler. He topped 6,000 miles and chewed through six pairs of shoes for the year.
Ultrarunners rarely sleep on 100-mile events, but will sometimes when they double the distance. “I was starting to fall asleep (while running) going into the second day and I was like, ‘Oh man, I need sleep.’ So, I laid down for about eight minutes. My crew woke me up, and I was like, ‘I don’t even think I slept. Give me six more minutes.’ It refreshed me for the beginning of the next loop. And then the daylight came,” he said.
Steel usually has his family crew for him. “My dad’s been a great support all season. My mom has come to some of them. And my girlfriend, Eva, has come to the last two.”
Watch the full interview on OwatonnaLive.com. Find him on social media for his self-produced videos and motivational messages.
Anytime is a good time
For folks getting started on a workout routine, or those looking to stay on track, you can use a bit of Steel’s inspiration, if not his workload, and get to a local gym.
Tim Anderson, owner of Anytime Fitness in Owatonna says now is as good a time as any to get going. “After the holidays, people tend to have more time for themselves, and there’s just not as much to do outside,” he said.
It’s a very individual approach. “Some people are going to have this goal, some people are going to have that goal… You really have to sit down. You have to talk to that person about what it is they’re looking for. Their goals, their limitations, their time constraints,” said Anderson.
Anytime Fitness has personal trainers for those looking for hands-on assistance. It is a 24-hour fitness center for those with off-peak schedules. Anderson has owned the Owatonna location for over 20 years and is the longest tenured franchise for the company.
He told Owatonna Live’s Business Talk it becomes a habit. “The way your body feels when you’re doing it and after you’re doing it. Sometimes getting into it, it’s going to be definitely harder but once you get into that routine, and it’s part of your life, you start to see results. That’s what keeps you coming back. It’s a great social atmosphere. I’ve got guys who stay here three hours a day. They talk for two.”
A self-proclaimed “neat freak,” Anderson is proud of how clean he keeps the gym at 1010 Hoffman Drive. The facility has plenty of cardio machines, exercise equipment, free weights and a studio with virtual on-demand classes.
He is excited to see an increased interest in weightlifting, specifically those that participate in the Women’s Barbell Classic. “They put in a lot for that, and they do a great job motivating people, going from a small amount to now there’s hundreds that are going for that. So, it’s just very cool to see the gals in here pushing themselves and getting ready for those competitions.”
Hosted by the Iowa-based Raise the Bar Initiative, the classic was held at Owatonna High School last October for the second time with a full slate of lifters.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule
Thursday, Feb. 12:
OHS wrestling, sections
Friday, Feb. 13:
OHS boys basketball vs. Rochester JM, 7:30 p.m.