How many marathons a year do runners do on average?

do top runners do on average?

Probably the most common thing I see is a spring and an autumn marathon. If the marathon is your 'specialty' and you race little else, then maybe sqeaking in three a year. "Top" runners is a bit ambiguous too. I know a whole lot of standout racers that might run a marathon every five years, but burn up the 5k, 10k and halfM circuit year in and year out. Or maybe only run one marathon a year or every other year. It has a lot to do with your own personal likes/dislikes and what distance you find the most success at. A whole lot of great runners never even run marathons and vice/versa, a lot of marathon junkies that aren't "top" runners, rarely run anything shorter.