Triathlon Coach

Rudy Christian grew up on Chicago's south side, living in the Pullman, Morgan Park and Woodlawn communities and attending Chicago Public Schools. In fourth grade, he qualified to skip an academic grade and entered Beasley Academic Center for gifted children. At the beginning of his high school years, his family moved to the Rogers Park neighborhood, where he attended Lane Tech. Throughout his childhood, Rudy's family continued to place a great emphasis on the value of education, and the discipline he endured during these high school years he feels has now proven helpful in his life.

Rudy attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he was also a member of the Illinois Army National Guard, Minority Organization of Pre-Health Students, the Minority Student Advisory Committee, the Black Chorus and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. These experiences served as leadership opportunities, yet forced him to balance both his academic and volunteer schedules. Rudy graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor's Degree in Pre-Med/Speech Communications.

Rudy obtained his Master's Degree in Public Health in 1995 from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Here, he also participated in Health Careers Opportunity Program. He earned a number of NIH sponsored assistanceships with Cook County Hospital and a community-based research program.

These graduate experiences provided the foundation for his future development in cardiovascular disease research, a disease that kills millions each year. Rudy developed a passion for working within African-American communities providing health education, CPR training, Motivational Speaking and Blood Pressure Training, and has taken this experience to the next level by beginning his pursuit of a Doctorate Degree.

Rudy's experience also includes youth violence research at the University of Illinois at Chicago, independent consulting for a number of Chicago community organizations and HIV/AIDS consulting for the University of Chicago Hospitals. Presently, Rudy works as a Regional Coordinator on a clinical trial with patients throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Rudy Christian has been involved with health and fitness training programs for over 10 years, having worked with high schools, universities, military units and independent fitness groups. In 2000, Rudy founded MaxFitness Marathon and Triathlon Training Programs, targeting Chicago’s south side communities.