Running shoes - check, light-weight clothes - check and um, what else? Well, if you want to get into the sport of running there is little else that you truly need. Of course do remember to take it slow in the beginning, but really you should be all set to go.

To take your running to the next level, there are gadgets, specialty socks and water bottles you can get to increase your performance and comfort.

If you are wondering what to invest in first to improve your training regime a good sports watch with a few of the bells and whistles can serve you well. A few wasy it can help are monitoring your heart rate and calculating your pace time.

Here are some of the big names out there that make watches geared to the runner. Each brand carries a basic starter model up to a surpreme watch that tells you when you just aren't working hard enough.

The Forerunner watch is available in 9 different series from the Forerunner 50 up to the 310XT and the 405CX .

The Garmin Forerunner 50 basic sports watch is not so basic. Not only can you time your runs with the stopwatch function but it comes with a wireless heart rate monitor or a foot pod and can give more data like your pace time, lap time and calories consumed. As with all the Garmin watches, you can upload this information onto the Garmin Training Center for detailed tracking and training logs.

With the Forerunner 405CX you are going to get everything the Forerunner 50 offers in addition to sending the information to your computer wirelessly when you're done your workout, give you a pace to meet or exceed, the bezel acts like a touch screen so there are no buttons to search for when changing functions.

If you are the adventurous type and like to forge your own trails, you will want to invest in the Foreunner 310 series with its GPS capabilities. Not only will you know your exact distance but you will be able to run an awesome route again and again.

The Ironman name is not only associated with an elite type of race but it is also a watch that has served runners, cyclists and triathtletes well.

The Timex company's line of watches is well-worn but their Ironman series is probably the best known and most popular.

The Ironman watches comes in men, women and unisex models and can track your swimming laps, your heart rate and where you are (GPS models only).

The Ironman Race Trainer kit comes with the watch that has a memory that can record you previous 10 workouts, up to 50 laps in the stopwatch mode and the option to upload your data to the Training Peaks software for training and nutrition advice.

From your standard watch with a timer to the GPS waterproof models, Timex puts out a reasonably priced sport watch geared to both sexes.

Nike watches have the power of their name behind their extensive timing series, they also hold the title for the funkiest sport watches out there. If you are tired of the same old boring look that all sports watches seem to posess than you have found the maker of your next watch.

Their catalogue has 11 different watch series with many models under each of the titles.

• Mettle
• Triax Speed
• Triax Swift
• Triax Swift Sync
• Merge
• Imara
• Oregon Series
• Monitoring Signature
• Kids
• Team

The Triax Vapor 300 Regular comes with a 300 lap memory and the ability to choose how you want the information to appear on the face of the watch. Their aim is to make using the watch seamless that you are distracted even a moment trying to figure out your split time or if you are on pace.

You know Nike does sports right, so whether or not your invest in their footwear or watches, you should check out their running website. You can follow their training plans, upload runs from your watch or your Nike + iPod plug-in and improve your overall fitness.