Getting Antsy for the "Racing Season"

Although there are small local races put on by the Upstate New York running clubs that I could partake in this winter, I'm looking forward to the big events in the spring -- you know, the ones with lots of people, racing chips, and goody bags (and yes, we judge the races based on the loot...we're only human.  The Apple Run has the best loot bag I've ever gotten -- a drawstring bag, a reusable grocery bag, a long-sleeve shirt, gloves, a hardcore waterbottle, an amazing raffle, and so on.  But I digress...)

So far, here are the races I'm planning:

3/12/11 - Runnin' on the Green 4-miler (Troy, NY)
4/2/11 - Spring Ahead 5K (Halfmoon, NY)
4/23/11 - [TENTATIVE] Lake George Half-Marathon (Lake George, NY)
5/15/11 - Shires of Vermont Marathon (Manchester, VT)....a.k.a. "the big day"
5/19/11 - CDPHP Workforce Challenge (Albany, NY)
5/22/11 - SPAC Rock & Run 5K (Saratoga, NY)
6/18/11 - Warrior Run (Queensbury, NY)
7/10/11 - Boilermaker 15K (Utica, NY)
8/14/11 - Warrior Dash (Windham, NY)

Not too shabby...Based on the above, starting in March, I'm running a race approximately every 3-5 weeks.  And this is not considering the YMCA 5K series, for which I usually sign up for every race that I can fit into my schedule (last year I almost did them all except for the East Greenbush one, because it fell on the same day as the Stockade-athon).  And this schedule will lead me right into the fall running season, and the plethora of races to be had at that time.  I think last October I ran a race every single weekend.

You'll also notice above that I have the Lake George Half-Marathon "tentatively" scheduled for 3 weeks before my marathon.  It's tentative because I'm not sure whether or not I should do it.  I WANT to do it, but I've read information for and against doing a half-marathon so close to your target race date.  The "pro" half-marathon racers say that it's a great "test race," a good time to refine your racing plan, your refueling protocols, and really dial-in your mind for the upcoming marathon.  The "anti" half-marathon racers say that you should not partake in a demanding race less than a month out from your target race.

I am as of yet undecided.  The timing would be good, because it would be my last tough effort before I begin tapering.  But then again, do I really want to risk burning myself out for my BIG event in 3 weeks from then?  And then another voice chimes in saying that 13 miles will be cake compared to the 20+ I should be conditioned to tackle by this stage.  So many contradictions!  To race or not to race...

Does anyone have any experience with this?  If so, can you give me some advice?