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Neal Amador started running in his mid-50s after his wife suffered a back injury. To help her heal, she took up walking and Amador joined in support. The pair started a couch-to-5K program in 2014 and Amador has been running ever since.
“In a seven month window, I went from not having run before to doing a 5K, a 10K and a half marathon,” Amador said.
The background
Mark King, owner of Fleet Feet Round Rock, first opened the store in 2013 and opted to host a run club at the location.
Amador joined a Fleet Feet run club in 2015 and in early 2016 he took over as director, continuing to mentor and coach fellow runners. He recently completed his 23rd half marathon and said if he can start running, anyone can.
What they offer
Fleet Feet has run clubs in Round Rock, Leander and Georgetown with weekly social runs at the Fleet Feet stores in Round Rock and Georgetown, according to its website. The run clubs have a 5K and 10K programs available for runners with scheduled training sessions and goal races.
The clubs have seasonal programs, including the winter 5K program in Round Rock where runners can register for $75 and participate in weekly training on Tuesdays and Saturdays, beginning Jan. 20.
In the last decade, Fleet Feet Run Club has put over 1,500 individuals through the 5K program, Amador said. The groups welcome all abilities and speeds.
“Speed's highly overrated,” Amador said. “I tell people this all the time. ... There are 5,280 feet in a mile. It doesn't matter if you do it in four minutes [or] 18 minutes, you've still done 5,280 feet.”
Another detail
For Amador, it’s the camaraderie of the run club that keeps him going.
“If you're looking at getting into fitness, getting into running, getting into walking, just want to get out and meet with a group of people, it's a great way to do that and it's a great way to hold yourself accountable,” Amador said. “It really helps to have that community behind you.”
What’s next
Starting in January, Fleet Feet Leander will start its own run club, featuring unique training programs. The store officially opened in May 2025, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
