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We tend to be wowed by the best looking watches, even if the features are suitable for runners. We may simply not know what features we should be looking for, yet without this knowledge we risk investing in a watch model that does not actually match their needs, so before you start shopping around, it is helpful then to take a look at features that are useful to runners other than a basic stopwatch timer.

First, you will likely need a watch with running features if most of the following points describe your activities:

1) You run competitively in races and are striving to run faster
2) You do several longer runs a week, over 30 minutes
3) You keep a running or fitness journal; and
4) At least some time, you perform some form of repetition or interval training.

If you only want to jog a few times a week for fitness, you do not need any more running features than a stop watch and possibly multi-session history, but this is optional. You should be able to comfortably get by with a cheap $10-20 sports watch with a basic chronograph timer.

Those who do more than just a few runs, can benefit from some of the more advanced features mentioned in the rest of the article.

Perhaps your most vital requirement is a watch face with digits displays that are clearly viewable at arm's length. One of the important qualities in a sports watch is that you can view your watch digits clearly while you are running.

Secondly you will need a way of recording individual repetition and recovery times when training over a fixed distance such as 200 meters. There are two basic mechanisms of logging times in a sports watch. Lap/split time logging over one session and multi session logging.

Lap/split recording is useful for recording time at significant points along your run, such as mile marks or lap times. Most modern sports watches allow you to store multiple laps per session, but cheaper watches may not.

If you are running a lot, then a watch with the ability to record session history and that allows you to easily navigate through sessions by date will be convenient as it will allow you to keep a history of runs in memory that you can later copy to a training journal. Some watches even support downloading of data to PC or Mac and into electronic journal format.

Thirdly, if you think you will possibly do timed interval training, say running say 3 minute efforts with a 2 minute recovery, then a watch with an Interval Timer feature will pay great dividends in assisting you with this type of session.

In summary, the following features are needed or at least extremely useful in a runners watch:

•A digital sports chronograph timer with the ability to record session lap splits
•A clear, presentable digital display, preferably with over-sized digits
•The capacity to store and retrieve multi-lap session history and possibly the ability to download session data to PC or Mac
•An Interval Timer features that runs a sequence of countdown timers of differing lengths with a repeat option

There are many watches that have all these features, but many do not, or only have some. You should always look carefully at the features of a watch you are eying off to ensure it is a good match for your needs.

Our website has a list of our recommended running watches. It includes a list of compatible running watches that include all the features and properties mentioned above.