having had my kids running for over a year now, and racing every weekend i'd like to express my view.
it seems as though age on day was promoted so that young men could run as adults as soon as thier birthday occured ( and in fact many were already doing that if not before..) this despite the fact the MASSIVE majority of runners are actually aged 14 or under so a rule was applied to benifit half a dozen not the hundreds that make up the main body of competitors.
equally having had my kids particpate at every english and GP round its clear that the maximum race distances are considered a minimum.. when ive enquired of race organsers why this extreme view is taken the common opinion is because the jump to adult length races is to great so long junior races are being promoted. so again the ambitions of half a dozen young men are being supported by hundreds of kids under 14.
participation is everything. dont make the races easy or sprints but its no coincidence that the longer a race the lower the entry,