As far as running watches go, I've always preferred Nike. My initial reasoning for this was superficial; I just like the way Nike watches look. You can tell that Nike's product developers really take athletes' input into account in their product designs - their products are so stylishly simplistic that they are perfect for serious training. They don't go overboard on their watches, and give their customers just what we want - a good looking, lightweight device by which to tell time and record training splits.

"My interval workouts are so complicated that it's essential that my watch record and store all my data"

I was recently in the market for a running watch, and chose the Nike Mobius Super Black/Black. Aside from being good looking, the Mobius is a very functional watch, and is perfect for my training. A runner, I vary my workouts between steady runs and intervals. I need a watch that will save my lap and run times such that I can later record them and track my progress efficiently. My interval workouts are sometimes so complicated, and the intensities and interval distance so variant that it's essential that my watch record and store all my data.

"I can rely completely on my watch for timing, and just focus on my running"

The Nike Mobius watch has a 100-Lap memory, and a data storage feature that enables me to store and look at data from past runs. In addition to this, the watch comes equipped with five interval timers. This allows me to program interval times before my interval workouts. For instance, when I do a 5 minute on, 2 minute off alternating running workout, I can set my watch so that it will beep at the end of every interval. This is very useful because it keeps me from having to look down at my wrist to check the elapsed time during each interval. Now I can rely completely on my watch for timing, and just focus on my running.

The neatest feature of this watch and one that I've never seen before is the "target time" feature. I run road races once in a while, and this feature allows me to preset my goal mile intervals. Throughout the race, the watch allows me to easily compare my racing time to my goal times. The watch beeps just before each mile or preset time. Again, this keeps me from looking down at my watch while I'm running - I know for how long I've been running from my watch's beeping.

The one drawback that this watch has is that its face is sometimes hard to read. While the color reversal of the watch is one of the most cosmetically appealing features of the watch, it also makes the face difficult to read in the wrong lighting. A particularly shady area will make me have to my rotate my wrist and take a second look at the watch numbers. Nike makes up for this with the Mobius' alarm, interval, and data storage features that I've mentioned. There is really no need to look at the watch face while I'm running; the watch will store my splits, and will beep when it's time for my next interval.

"the Mobius has all the features necessary to optimize your training and keep it organized"

I suggest that if you're looking for a running watch, you buy the Nike Mobius. It's a great watch for all of your running needs; it has all the features necessary to optimize your training and keep it organized. And though I've realized looks are less important than functionality in a running watch, it certainly doesn't hurt that the Mobius is a really great looking watch.