I have seen small mowers trashed by people trying to mow too much grass that is too thick and high for them to handle. Well saved Norm!
I usually get my 20 year old Rover out if the grass gets away on me. It chugs away like a champ, ripping through the thickest grass with ease. Meanwhile my "new" self-propelled Supaswift struggles and always ends up getting itself clogged up.