Jennifer Bistrack: Inspiring Others Toward a Healthy Life

Jennifer “Jenn” Bistrack, health and aquatics coordinator for the Annapolis Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD), was born in Philadelphia, grew up in Georgia and currently lives in Annapolis.

Like most kids, she learned to swim in kindergarten or first grade. During eighth grade, she tried soccer and gymnastics and was a cheerleader.

“I was average at everything,” she recalled, “but I didn’t love it.”

Her mother insisted that she find something to do with her time.

“Mom always said, ‘You’ve got to find something to do after school. You’re not going to come home and sit on your butt and watch TV,” said Bistrack, amused at the recollection. Her mother told her to check at school to see which activities were available.

So, Bistrack investigated drama, band and yearbook club.

“I had to find something. No buts about it. Certainly no butts on the couch,” she said, chuckling.

Her search for an after-school activity brought her to the pool and swimming. Discovering that swimming was a competitive sport was news to her.

“Most people get into the sport of swimming between 8 and 10 years old,” she said.

After her first swim practice, she told her mother she was quitting.

“It’s the hardest work I’ve ever done,” she said.

But her mother said it’s scheduled and paid for and she’d have to stick with it.

She became a member of the swim team in Georgia and the summer leagues and year-round swim clubs.

Her swimming experience led to a summer job as lifeguard at a pool, but the lifeguards had to teach swimming, as well. She recalled being terrified of teaching. She was only 16 years old and felt intimidated about teaching kids who don’t know how to swim, while knowing that doing it wrong presented life-threatening danger.

“It was great to get paid,” she said. All her friends were teaching swimming, too. She was allowed to work for only five days in a row with two days off and recalls wondering why because it was so much fun; she would have worked seven days a week.

“It takes patience, time and practice. I’ve been teaching or coaching swimming ever since. At this point, I don’t do it full time. Most of my job now is administrative,” said Bistrack, referring to her current job with the ARPD.

She remembered her young teaching years and now has a staff of 16 people who do the teaching at Truxton Park Rec Center's pool.

Today, Bistrack’s main job is writing grant proposals. She has helped make programs such as and possible. She coaches the adult Master Swimming program for the county in the fall. Master Swimming is a program for adults who want to use swimming as their fitness. Some participants know how to swim a little while others are experienced. One student was a triathlete. She helps them to train the right way to achieve the best physical results.

Bistrack said the advantages of coaching adults go both ways. She meets a large swath of the community and has made some very good friends. She enjoys seeing the positive changes in the swimmers in just a few months as they gain tremendous endurance and speed in their swimming.

“It gives them confidence to do other things,” Bistrack observed.

Seeing her students’ achievement has encouraged her to try some things. She felt she had to practice what she preached, she added.

“When around athletes, it’s a very healthy, encouraging, positive environment. I think since I coach adults…we’re all encouraging each other…” she said.

She noticed a boost in confidence for herself. “It’s a great avenue to remind yourself that with positive peer pressure and good coaching and consistence, you can really come a long way.”

Over the next few years, Bistrack would like to continue developing public health and chronic disease prevention programs while doing aquatics in summer. Public health work is needed throughout the year but aquatics is a revenue generating arm of her job.

Bistrack’s hobbies include swimming for herself, cycling and reading. She enjoys a book with great character development, a well planned plot and a happy ending, she said. She also paints with watercolors just for the enjoyment of it, claiming no real talent.