Question about tournament survival

First off this is not a bad beat story. I played a couple of Multi-table tournaments today with the last being a $10 buy in at PP that I was just knocked out of.

I was above the average stack size and tried to only get involved with smaller stacks. I get dealt AK, so I raise 3xbb and get one caller. Flop comes KXX, he checks, I bet the pot, he reraises, I push and he calls with QQ and catches a Q on the river...I'm out.

There's the background and I'm sure it happens to you guys as much as it happens to me, but the question is this: Knowing that this kind of thing happens do you still always try to get your money in with the best hand and let the cards fall where they may or do you ever fold what you know is the best hand in order to avoid the possibility of elimination early or mid way through?

I realize it's a catch 22 because a good majority of the time your dubling up through <edit> OTHERS bad calls.

What is your guys strategy?