About John

As a long time triathlete with a background in education, coaching is a natural part of John's lifestyle. John has extensive expertise and knowledge to share with athletes which has developed from over 15 years of racing. John's racing background includes close to 150 triathlons with 8 Ironmans (including Ironman Hawaii in 2010) and 25+ half Ironmans. Spinney works with committed athletes and he finds the coach-athlete relationship incredibly rewarding.

Since coming on board with QT2 systems first as an athlete under coach Jesse and then as a coach, John has the utmost confidence in the protocols and the individualization of training programs used by QT2. John has experienced significant improvement as an athlete since coming to QT2 Systems including taking over 5 minutes off his open half marathon in 2 years and now has a current PR of 1:16:57. John's other PRs include 9:47 for ironman and 4:11 for half ironman. John credits these personal bests to the QT2 protocols around building aerobic efficiency through training at appropriate intensity levels, building physical durability through gradual volume increases, maximizing body composition, optimal race fueling, and suitable pacing while racing.

John has experienced great success as a coach and has a particular interest and skill in taking elite age group athletes to the next level. Some highlights include getting multiple athletes to the Kona start line; coaching Jessie Donavan for 2+ years as an age grouper, bringing her up to the pro level and sending her off to head coach Jesse Kropelnicki's pro squad. John created a foundation with Jessie that fostered a seamless transition to the pro ranks. Donavan has scored 2 overall Ironman victories so far in 2012! Each year all of John's athletes consistently set multiple PRs throughout the season. Just recently John had an athlete at Ironman Mont Tremblant who took 71 minutes off his IM PR in one year (11:20 to 10:09)! Last season the 2 most improved athletes (as voted by QT2 team mates) were two of john's one-on-one athletes.

When he's not coaching and racing John is an educational consultant with the Vermont Department of Education. In this role he trains Vermont's high school special educators to optimally prepare youth with disabilities for post high school activities like employment, college and/or independent living.

John lives in Waterbury, Vermont with his wife Lindsay who he met at a triathlon 10 years ago. They live with their 100 pound Rottweiler who thinks he's a lap dog.