3 min read
I’m a nerd. I’m a runner. And honestly, those two worlds usually only collide when I’m geeking out over the latest running tech—headphones, GPS watches, shoes. But when I was invited to view the Best Gifts for Runners collection at New York Comic Con, it felt like a gum gum shot. Here was lifestyle gear designed for people exactly like me—those of us who crave sports apparel but also want to wear our nerdiness unapologetically.
Noah Lyles is a massive anime fan, and he shows it on the track with poses and fun little clues only other anime nerds would clock. That’s what makes this collection so special. He’s part of a growing crew of track and field stars who openly embrace their love of anime and nerd culture.
And it’s not just a casual interest for Lyles—he is fully one of us and talks passionately about how stories like One Piece Adidas Crunch Mode Hoodie - Crunchyroll Exclusive One Piece reflect his own journey as an athlete. Knowing that a star of his caliber draws motivation from anime makes it clear that running and nerd culture aren’t separate worlds—they’re practically penne gorgonzola with sea king meat (We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back).
This collection is more than just cool graphics. It’s premium lifestyle and run gear that holds up to the way we runners treat our everyday clothing. The fabrics are soft, the fits are spot on, and the designs carry that unmistakable flair of a passion project—made for runners who want to celebrate their fandom.
Before this, many runners who nerded out in private felt like they had to choose between being “serious” about their sport or being true to their geeky interests. Now, Lyles and Crunchyroll have created a line that lets us bring our whole selves to the sport.
At NYCC, the energy was something else. Fans cheered, swapped stories about their favorite anime, and admired the gear that merges style with sport. It felt like a community coming together—runners who never felt fully represented, now seeing their worlds collide in a way that feels authentic and empowering.
Noah is a star athlete, no doubt—breaking records and dazzling on the track—but what really shows is how he’s using that spotlight to represent something bigger. He’s showing that being a top-tier athlete and a devoted nerd can coexist in ways most of us only dreamed of as we scroll through our favorite soundtrack running playlists. That energy ripples through every stitch of this collection, inviting other runners to lean into their nerdiness proudly, whether that's binge-watching anime series after a workout or strategizing workouts like a true gamer plans a raid.
The Noah Lyles x Adidas collaboration from Crunchyroll isn’t the only blend of anime culture and athletic lifestyle gear the streaming giant has rolled out. In addition to that nerdcore running line, Crunchyroll also teamed up with Under Armour to create a performance collection inspired by Jujutsu Kaisen.
This line merges high-performance sportswear with the dark, supernatural aesthetic of the popular anime, featuring bold designs and technical fabrics made for training and competition alike. Together, these collections highlight Crunchyroll’s growing influence in merging anime fandom with elite athletic fashion.
For nerdy runners like me, these collections mean more than apparel—they’re a call to celebrate who we truly are. Because loving anime and being serious about running aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, their combination can fuel us in ways we never expected. So if you’ve ever felt like you had to box off parts of your identity to fit in on the track or on the couch, collections like these are proof you don’t have to. Run fast, nerd out, and wear it all with pride.
Best Gifts for Runners Collection
Under Armour HeatGear® Gojo Mens Compression Mock Long Sleeve
Adidas Crunch Mode T-shirt - Crunchyroll Exclusive
Other Hearst Subscriptions
Crunchyroll and Jujitsu Kaisen Under Armour Collab
Under Armour HeatGear® Toji Men's Compression Short Sleeve
Under Armour HeatGear® Gojo Men's Compression Mock Long Sleeve
Under Armour HeatGear® Geto Men's Compression Mock Long Sleeve
Cat Bowen has been covering parenting and home for over a decade. At Best Products, she has tested hundreds of products for parents and for the home, often spending dozens of hours per product to ensure her reviews are accurate and informative. Prior to joining the team, she was at Romper where she covered everything from breastfeeding to child sleep habits to abortion rights access. You can find her work on Bustle, Romper, and more. Cat is a bit of an intellectual magpie and perpetual student, most recently receiving a graduate degree in gender studies where she examined a topic that vexes so many — pockets in women’s clothing.
