A:Answer Wifi and GPS are two totally different things.
WiFi is what cell phones use to communicate and download data apart from the cell service provider.
GPS are satellite controlled. This is only a problem on very cloudy days.
If you want to know if this watch will transmit data wirelessly, No. It will not. You have to plug the watch in to get any information from the watch. I am also a runner, and the GPS works wonderfully on most days. It has a hard time registering miles on a bicycle and a elliptical. If that isn't a problem, then this watch will work fine.
If she wants a watch that she can sync with her phone, then the Polar M400 may be a better option. It also has GPS, and a step counter.