Apple 3G iPhone App Review: The Running Gypsy

Every day it seems I check out the Apple App Store to see if there any iPhone apps that might prove to be useful in my day be it online or offline and one thing I needed to find when I replaced my Sony Ericsson W580i with my Apple 3G iPhone was a stopwatch that is more geared towards joggers and runners; I believe I have found my solution!

The technogeeky side of me does enjoy keeping track of statistics and my journey to become a runner from a newbie jogger means I like to keep track of how far I have gone and in which time it took me to achieve it. Also following The Running Room’s recommendation for beginner joggers is that I jog at various intervals and needing a program that helps me track is a feature I set out to find.

The Running Gypsy

The Running Gypsy is an application for the Apple 3G iPhone which utilizes the GPS feature that is built into the phone. It also keeps track of the lap times, distance travelled (as well as per lap), your average speed, current speed, as well as your average pace and current pace.

Looking over the other apps that is offered on the iTunes App store did not seem to compare to what the Running Gypsy program could do for me and that it has the ability to tie into the GPS of the iPhone was an added bonus.

Testing out the GPS and options

The other day I went for a leisurely walk around the block during my lunch break at work and though I would see how far and how long it would take me to complete my little lunch circuit.

I went outside, selected the Running Gypsy application and let it acquire the GPS signal. There are 3 signal levels for the GPS portion of the Running Gypsy: No Accuracy, Moderate Accuracy and Accuracy OK. Sure not the best ways of telling you how the GPS portion will perform but it will give you its best ‘guess’. If you want to test out the GPS portion of the iPhone it would probably be best to go a route in which you know the distance and then see if the Running Gypsy reports similar results. In my test I found that at Accuracy Ok, it did a good job!

Are Laps Important?

With the Beginning Running Room program you run and walk in set intervals and each week you change those intervals to build up your endurance. The main feature I wanted in a jogging/running application is the ability to use Laps and to see my previous lap without interfering with looking at my overall time. The Running Gypsy does just that and in an easy to use form. When you hit your specified time just hit the Lap button and it will lock the Lap time for 5 seconds just below the total duration time and then

To fully test out the Running Gypsy to ensure it is an application that I was satisfied purchasing (even though it did only cost me $1.99), I took it out with me for a run. I did my 2 minute run, 1 minute walk and repeated that 7 times.

Sure holding the iPhone in my hand while I do this might be a bit awkward for some but I do not mind it. I thought about purchasing one of those Garmin running watches that do the same thing but at roughly $70-80 dollars for one, I do not see a need at this time as the iPhone does the same thing for me. Perhaps when I become better and go further distances holding my iPhone might be an issue but for now I will make do. I am sure there are armbands out there for the Apple 3G iPhone as well but I find that some of them do not fit around my biceps.

So in summary the Running Gypsy utilizes the power of GPS in the Apple 3G iPhone and allows me to keep track of my progress while out jogging in my effort to be active and healthy. I can then go back and look over previous workouts and laps to see how I am progressing (hopefully I am). If you are a running or jogger, even a walker and own an Apple 3G iPhone I recommend checking out the Running Gypsy over on the iTunes App Store and downloading it.