It’s easy to catch the marathon bug. Influencers and everyday runners flood social media talking about their training, their accomplishments, and their speedy splits. And when your options range from exciting destination races and multiday challenge events to the coveted World Marathon Majors , it’s easy to get caught up in signing up for 26.2 after 26.2.

But can you run too many marathons?

What does a race calendar that brings out your best performances—while still supporting your recovery and life outside of running—actually look like?

We talked to an exercise physiologist and a sports psychology researcher to find out the physical and mental effects of marathoning and how to determine the number of races per year that keeps you motivated and feeling accomplished without overwhelm or burnout.

How Many Marathons Should You Race in a Year?

It’s absolutely possible to go overboard on marathoning, Janet Hamilton , CSCS, an exercise physiologist and the founder and head coach of Running Strong , tells…