After just one year on the job, Terrence Mahon is out as UK national distance coach

by LetsRun.com
September 20, 2013

After just one year in the UK working as the national distance coach for UK Athletics, coach Terrence Mahon is leaving his post and returning to the US. An announcement on the UK Athletics website quotes Mahon as saying the following:

“I am pleased to have worked closely with some very talented British coaches and support staff during this period in implementing a multi-faceted approach to training – including all aspects of the sports science and medical team in place at the national performance Institute.

“There is a talented body of endurance coaches in the UK not to mention world class individuals such as Barry Fudge who plays such a crucial part in Mo Farah’s success, and there is no reason why that success cannot grow.

“I wish everyone at British Athletics the best in the run up to 2016, and will follow GB athletes’ progress in future.”

This is a developing story and it will be interesting to see why Mahon is returning to the US. When he left the US and moved to the UK, one can’t imagine he envisioned himself staying only one year. Afterall, many of his key athletes like 1500 runner Morgan Uceny uprooted themselves from California and moved to the UK to be with Mahon as well.

The UK athletics announcement on Mahon’s departure quoted British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black as talking about it being “a challenging post 2012 year.” Black’s full quote on Mahon:

“Terrence has worked hard in what has been a challenging post 2012 year to align our endurance programmes going forward towards 2016 and 2017, and I thank him for his contribution to British Athletics this year.

The London Times has an article entitled, “UK Athletics in a state of flux with exit of Terrence Mahon” which references the fact that another coach “has quit”. Former head coach Peter Eriksson, who was brought in by Performance Director Neil Black at the same time as Mahon, left his post after 8 months on the job earlier this year to return to Canada. The question is, did Mahon quit because he wanted to return to the US, or did UK Athletics have a change in direction?

Discuss this development in our messageboard: MB: After one year on the job, Terrence Mahon is out as UK national distance coach and will return to US.

Update at 2:41 pm: We reached out to Mahon via email and asked him if he’d like to make a statement and asked him specifically:

 “Why are you leaving after less than a year on the job? What’s next for you and what about the athletes you were working with? Will they be returning the US as well?”

Mahon wrote back the following:

Robert,

I don’t have anything to add other than what’s in the press release.

Its listed here – www.britishathletics.org.uk

Both Anna Pierce and Morgan Uceny are already back in the US. Morgan is running at the 5th Ave mile on Sunday and then she will take a break for a few weeks. Anna is already doing some base training in CA. They both will be doing their early season altitude training in Mammoth Lakes with the support of the Mammoth Track Club.

I will return to the US at some point later this fall after I have finished up work here in the UK. Future plans are still to be determined.

All the best,

Terrence Mahon

More: *Article on Morgan Uceny Coming Back to US
MAHON TO LEAVE BRITISH ATHLETICS ENDURANCE POST
LRC Vault 2012: MB: Terrance Mahon to UK Athletics – LetsRun.com
LRC Vault 2008: Video: LetsRun interview with Mahon where he talks about Ryan Hall’s meteoric rise in the marathon and his chances at 2008 London Marathon
LRC Vault 2008: Video: Ryan Hall’s Coach Terrence Mahon Talks About Ryan Hall’s Incredible 2:06:17 in London
LRC Vault: 2007: Post Nationals Interview With Team Running USA Coach Terrence Mahon