If you’ve been around the running world for five minutes, you’ve probably heard someone obsessing about their pace. “What’s your pace?” “I PR’d my pace!” “Oh, you ran that pace?” I get it. Pace sounds important. But here’s the thing – it’s totally overrated. Yup, I said it. I’m officially starting the “Who Cares About Pace?” club, and we’ll meet weekly to not talk about how fast (or slow) we run.

Here’s the truth: pace doesn’t actually matter when your goal is to build endurance and stamina for long runs. It’s about being able to keep going, not how quickly you can sprint to the nearest water station. And yet, people are obsessed with pace. Why? Because it’s a number. And people love numbers! I, too, love numbers. It gives you something tangible to measure, to post on social media, to feel proud about – or, in my case, something to avoid looking at so I don’t dismiss my effort.

The reality is that focusing too much on pace can be a huge mistake, especially for newbie runners like me who are just trying to survive 13.1 miles without needing an ambulance at mile 9. If you’re constantly worrying about how fast you’re running, you end up pushing yourself too hard, too soon, and that’s how you end up on the couch with an injury instead of out there crushing your long runs.

Why Not Focusing on Pace is Actually Smarter

According to Runner’s World, the most important thing for endurance running is… drumroll please… endurance! And you don’t build that by trying to sprint your way through every workout. Instead, focusing on slow, steady runs allows you to build aerobic capacity, which is fancy talk for “you’ll actually be able to keep going for more than a mile without dying” .

Meanwhile, Women’s Running explains that too much emphasis on pace can mess with your form and make you prone to injuries . When you’re worried about your pace, you’re more likely to change the way you run – lengthen your stride, overexert yourself, and basically do all the things your body doesn’t want you to do. Not ideal if you’re hoping to keep all your joints in working order.

And let’s not forget Trail Runner Magazine’s wisdom that pace varies based on a million factors – terrain, weather, how much pizza you ate the night before – so it’s ridiculous to use it as the ultimate measure of success . One day you’re flying, the next you’re trudging through the world’s longest mile, and both are totally fine.

Why Endurance Is the Real MVP

If you’re training for a long race (like, say, a half marathon in November – hypothetically), the goal is to build stamina. You want to be able to go the distance and not collapse in a heap of misery at mile 8. The secret to that? Slow runs. Long, slow runs. These bad boys build up your body’s ability to keep going when you’re tired, which is way more important than shaving 15 seconds off your pace. Plus, running slow is just more fun. You can chat with your running buddies, enjoy the scenery, and not feel like your lungs are going to explode.

So, next time someone asks about your pace, feel free to smile and say, “Oh, I’m just focused on building endurance.” Trust me, it sounds impressive – and you’ll still be the one feeling strong at the end of your run while the pace-obsessed crowd is limping to the finish line.

“Forward is a pace”

Long live slow, steady miles!