The reason our sport is in decline is due to the society we live in. Life is more sedentry, TV is consistently beaming crap into living rooms, food is convenient, effortless and full of fat. 10 years ago kids were more active, instead of TV and computer games they were outside playing or were taking part in some form of extra curricular activity. Its not just running and other sports that are in decline, its music and the arts as well.
Allowing access to mass participation events is not a quick fix - which we have been used to, but maybe taking part in a fun run as a child might encourage and generate future enthusiasm for sport.
aClosing finishing lines before the entire field is merely going to alienate our sport from the general public even more.