# Friend-a-thon — Friends cheer you on each mile > Personalized voice cheers from friends play automatically during races. (iPhone/iPad app by Zachary Schwartz.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friend-a-thon/id6760599846 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Zachary Schwartz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1843943662) - Category: Health & Fitness, Social Networking - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 26.2 · 16 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-03-20 - Data updated: 2026-08-05 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/friend-a-thon/id6760599846/reviews.md ## What is Friend? Friend-a-Thon lets your friends and family record personalized voice cheers that play automatically at each mile marker during your race. Here's how it works: 1. Create a race — 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, or custom distance 2. Send invites through iMessage — friends tap the bubble and record a cheer right in the chat 3. Run your race — cheers play automatically as you hit each mile Features: • iMessage integration — friends record without downloading the app • Assign cheers to specific miles or let them shuffle randomly • Find real races through RunSignup or create your own • GPS and Apple Health tracking for automatic mile detection • Works with AirPods and any Bluetooth headphones • Face ID lock to keep your app private Whether it's your first 5K or your 10th marathon, hearing a familiar voice at mile 20 hits different. Friend-a-Thon turns your people into your personal cheering squad. ## Key features - Personalized voice cheers - Automatic mile marker playback - iMessage integration for cheer recording - GPS and Apple Health tracking - Customizable cheer assignment - Face ID privacy lock ## Frequently asked questions about Friend ### How does Friend-a-thon work? Friend-a-thon allows your friends and family to record personalized voice cheers. These cheers are then automatically played at each mile marker during your race, enhancing your running experience. ### Can friends record cheers without downloading Friend-a-thon? Yes, friends can record cheers directly through iMessage. They simply tap the chat bubble, and the app guides them through recording their message without needing to download Friend-a-thon themselves. ### How are cheers triggered during a race? The app uses GPS and Apple Health tracking to automatically detect when you hit each mile marker. This ensures that your personalized cheers play at the precise moment you reach them. ### Can I customize when my cheers play? Yes, you have the option to assign specific cheers to particular miles, or you can let them shuffle randomly throughout your race. This allows for a personalized and dynamic cheering experience. ### What devices does Friend-a-thon support? Friend-a-thon is available on iPhone and iPad, making it accessible for a wide range of Apple users. It also works seamlessly with AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones. ### Is Friend-a-thon suitable for all race distances? Yes, Friend-a-thon supports various race distances including 5K, 10K, half marathons, marathons, and custom distances. You can also find real races through RunSignup or create your own event. ### How is my privacy protected with Friend-a-thon? Friend-a-thon includes a Face ID lock feature to keep your app private. This ensures that your personal race data and cheer recordings are secure. ### What is the update frequency for Friend-a-thon? The latest version of Friend-a-thon is 1.1.0, which was last updated on July 23, 2026. This indicates active development and support for the application. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.1.1 — 2026-08-02 Just press start. - New Start Run button right on the home screen. Tap it and your friends' cheers play at every mile — anywhere, any day. No race date, no start line, no waiting. - The home screen now shows which race is queued up and how many cheers are ready to play. - Removed the Apple Health and always-on location permissions. Friend-a-Thon no longer needs either one. - Fixed a bug where cheers could stay silent if the race they belonged to had been changed or removed. ### 1.1.0 — 2026-07-23 Cheers from friends now travel across devices! - Invite a friend and they can record a voice cheer right from their browser — no app needed. It lands in your library automatically, ready to play at the mile you pick. - New "waiting on your friends" view so you always know your invites went out and cheers are on the way. - A little celebration when a fresh cheer arrives while you're in the app. ### 1.0.4 — 2026-05-05 - Bug fixes and reliability improvements. ### 1.0.3 — 2026-05-02 - Added privacy-respecting product analytics so we can understand how the app is used and improve the experience over time. No advertising, no third-party tracking, no PII. ### 1.0 — 2026-03-20 No release notes. ## More apps by Zachary Schwartz - [taptzy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/taptzy/id6753996173) All apps by Zachary Schwartz: https://appshunter.io/developer/1843943662 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-05.*