Overstaying your welcome

There is a saying in politics that it’s better to leave an hour early rather than five minutes too late. That’s because a politician decides to leave early and the voters will tell you when you have stayed too long. The same idea applies to skiing. It is better to leave the hill looking forward to the next trip than ski one run too many.

This past week I skied one run too many. It was an inglorious fall that would have been a yard sale if I lost my skis. As it happened, my skis stayed on as I hurtled down the hill and my leg adopted a position I didn’t realize was possible outside of a yoga studio.

The consequence was a strained knee, an Advil and no running for a few days. I’m hoping to be back in action for my Friday long run, since long runs are not just good exercise but also therapeutic.

My four-legged running partner still waits impatiently by the door but this week he will have to be satisfied with walks, not runs, through the ravine.