Everybody seems to be doing it these days… Executive Editor Christine Yeh is training for the New York City Marathon, Art Director Iris Johnson has taken to the pavement with her newfound love of running, and even my own mother completed her second 5K Diva Run this spring.

Running has truly taken hold as the quotidian sport of choice. So Rudy Project’s recent announcement that they would be partnering with triathlete Max Fennell came as a natural progression for this pioneering sport brand. Of course a triathlon consists not only of running but also cycling and swimming, a trifecta of endurance sports.

Enter Max Fennell. The 27-year-old Philadelphia native who is currently earning major props as a celebrated triathlete and not only because he is officially the first African-American pro triathlete. Always interested in competitive sports, Fennell initially set out to become a pro-soccer player. However, following an MCL injury, Fennell shelved his footballer dreams and turned his attention to the world triathlons. “I was working in a coffee shop at the time, and one of our regulars who did triathlons saw me limping around and asked what I was going to do,” says Fennell. “After talking with him for a while, he convinced me to try it out. I said alright, I’ll try just doing one.” That “one” was the Tri Rock Philadelphia, in which Fennell placed 7th in his group—an astounding success for this athlete’s very first race. Fennell decided “just doing one” was not going to be enough. In his first season alone, he ascended the podium in four out of six races. In fall of 2014, Fennell earned his pro card and discovered that he was the only current African-American pro triathlete.

“As a family brand dedicated to expanding the sport, we are proud to be working with this incredible athlete to further his professional and charitable causes,” says Paul Craig, president and co-founder of Rudy Project North America. “Max has limitless potential, and we’re excited to help in his journey by supplying the best possible helmets, sunglasses and triathlon equipment.”

With his signature haircut, fierce competitive drive and the addition of Rudy Project’s matte black Magster sunglasses—outfitted with photochromic lenses—Fennell is a striking contender. “Rudy Project gear is absolutely top-notch,” says Fennell. “I like the Sterling helmet a lot, simply because it’s comfortable and has a bug net. I’ve been on numerous rides in the past where a bee has gone down my shirt or through my helmet. I also like the Magster glasses with photochromic lenses. Yesterday I went on a run, and the lenses changed with the fading of the light. I wear those sunglasses all the time.”

In addition to working with the Black Triathlete association, introducing more minorities to triathlon, Fennell is currently training with The Triathlon Squad out of San Diego. Under the guidance of Coach Paulo Sousa, Fennell is primarily focused on racing Olympic distance in order to showcase his raw speed and incredible power. So it comes as no surprise that this ambitious athlete has set his sights on earning a coveted spot on Team USA with the hopes of competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.    

—Patrisha Holly Zabrycki