Yes, for both swimming and weight lifting, technique is important. Sometimes I see folks at the gym doing dangerous things, and at times i even see the trainers teaching dangerous things - most noticeably, pulling the lat bar down behind your neck.

I am not trying to go fast when I swim - in fact, I am really just trying to buildup my "wind" - but - I would like to take a lesson or two once I get my wind built up. Want to know in what poor shape you are - try swimming the crawl for several laps without stopping.

I also got out for an hour on the bike today. It was up to 50, and I really like riding the plowed trails with the snow banks on each side. Very pretty.