Ever since upgrading from my Pearl 8130 to my Tour 9630 I had been looking for really good way to utilize the GPS chip in my Tour to track my position when I run. The 8130 does of course have GPS capability but the GPS chips isn’t available to third-party applications, therefore limiting it to pretty much just TeleNav and the native BlackBerry Maps application. Upon receiving my Tour I began the search to find a good, preferably free, solution to allow me to track my runs and log them easily. After a lot of scouring the many BlackBerry Forums I settled on a simple application called GPSLogger.

The application is completely free and extremely easy to use. GPSLogger does exactly what you expect it to do, and it does it with a simple, light interface. I admit it is not the most attractive application I have ever used, but for how I use it, I really don’t want fancy graphics and bells and whistles. GPSLogger does provide a lot of information while you are traveling however, including your current distance traveled, latitude, longitude, current velocity, altitude, and number of satellites that you are currently connected to. There is no need for a cell signal either, in fact, I typically turn off the radio on my phone to eliminate distractions.

Personally when I run, I start GPSLogger and then carry my phone in hand. I am able to easily see my progress on-screen with the timer view. Upon ending my run I simply stop logging and then export the .GPX file that the application creates. GPSLogger allows you to export the file via email so there’s no need to pull out the USB cable every time you run.

Ok great, you ran, you logged it, and now you have your .GPX file. Now you just need to make the file useful. I use Runner’s World’s Run Tracker to make sense of all my logs. Run Tracker has an easy web-based interface to import .GPX files and gives a really awesome breakdown of your runs including a full map of your route, distance traveled, speed, and elevation. Run Tracker is free but you will need to sign up for an account. The combination of GPSLogger and Run Tracker are a totally free and really comprehensive way to track runs on the BlackBerry.

GPSLogger will only work on BlackBerries with third-party access to their GPS chip. Emacberry claims that it will work on the 8100, 8220, 8310, 8800, 8820, 8900, 9000, 9500, 9520, 9530, 9550, 9630 & 9700. If your device is one of the ones listed, give GPSLogger a go and let us know how it goes. Have a better method for managing your workouts? Leave a comment!

Grab GPSLogger here and check out Runner’s World’s Run Tracker here.

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