Can you keep certain app active in background during sleep?

[New Daddy]

Can you keep certain app active in background during sleep? I'm trying to use my TP2 to track my driving/hiking trips so that I can later geotag my pictures that I take along the way and upload the pictures with the GPS-tracked route, using a website like everytrail.com.

The problem is, when TP2 goes to sleep to save power, it appears that my GPS-tracking app stops working as well. Is there any way to keep the GPS-tracking app active even when the mobile phone is asleep? Or do I have to keep the phone on during the whole time? If the latter, my cell phone battery won't last longer than a few hours' continuous use, greatly diminishing my intention to use TP2 as a GPS tracker during a long trip.