One Kilometer at a Time
My tombstone quote and thoughts for the week on AI Agents and DeepSeek giving US a run for their money
We all have moments when we wonder how we'll push through tough times. In Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom and Morrie Schwartz reflect on the legacy we leave behind. Morrie chooses to have his tombstone read: “A Teacher to the Last,” symbolizing his unwavering dedication to teaching, even in the face of ALS.
For me, if I had to choose what my tombstone would say, it would probably be: “One km at a time.”
I first encountered this phrase on Rich Roll’s podcast, where ultrarunner William Goodge shared his endurance philosophy. It wasn’t just the wisdom behind it that struck me—it became my mantra for long runs and challenging moments in life. The beauty of “One km at a time” is its simplicity. It’s not about the whole journey, just getting through that next step, that next kilometer. After that, you decide: Should I stop, or go one more?
Malnad Trail Ultra 50km
Last year, I had the perfect opportunity to test this mantra during the Malnad Trail Ultra 50km. I trained hard—weekly mileage, hill runs, elevation sessions—I felt ready for anything the course could throw at me.
But race day? Oh, it had other plans. The course was 80% jeep tracks, steep, rocky descents, and plenty of elevation that made me question my sanity. Add in the sun—seriously, it was like the sun had a personal vendetta against me.
As the kilometers dragged on, my body started questioning why I was there in the first place. Why am I doing this? For a medal and a few Strava kudos? Negativity loves to creep in when you're at your lowest, and that voice in my head whispered: Maybe I should just quit and go home. But it’s in those moments that “One km at a time” helped me focus. It didn’t make the pain vanish, but it gave me something small to cling to—just one more kilometer.
And you know what? After a few kilometers, the negativity disappeared. I shifted my focus to the next step, and eventually, the finish line came into view.
What I realized during those tough moments is that focusing on one kilometer doesn’t just help you survive the race—it keeps you grounded in the moment. It’s easy to get lost in the daunting distance ahead, but when you break it down into manageable chunks, you free yourself from overwhelm.
Applying it to Work
This same mindset works wonders in the workplace. We often get buried under large projects, looming deadlines, and endless tasks. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, I’ve learned to focus on one small milestone at a time. What’s the next step? What’s the next kilometer? Before I know it, I’ve crossed off bigger goals without even realizing how far I’ve come.
Malnad Ultra: A Lesson in Humility
The race taught me something unexpected. When I completed the 50km, I saw a group of runners heading out for their second loop in the dark, tackling the 100km. There I was, sitting in a corner, waiting for my friend, humbled. Despite running consistently for five years, I realized that I still have so much to learn.
So, this year, I’m going to run races that humble me even further and break my ego in new ways.
My other writings for the Week
Agents Will Start Handling Some Digital Tasks – In this piece, I delve into how technology is reshaping the role of agents and how digital tools are starting to take over some of the tasks that were once performed by humans. You can check it out here.
How China’s DeepSeek is Giving the US a Run for Their Money – This LinkedIn post takes a closer look at how China’s DeepSeek, is positioning itself as a formidable competitor to the US tech giants. DeepSeek is proof that with the right vision and strategy, limited resources can lead to groundbreaking advancements. You can read the full post here.
Let’s keep running… one kilometer at a time. 😄