Pace is the average time it takes, in minutes, for you to cover 1 mile or 1 kilometer. Pace becomes especially important if you are training to complete a race at a specific time goal. Proper pacing will help you stay consistent and also allow you to efficiently chase your running goals. Remember, we are talking about pace not speed. Speed is the distance covered in a given time. It may help build more muscle and could be better for fat burn. Speed and Pace are inversely proportional to each other. Runners prefer to track pace since it enables them to measure the exact time they take to cover a given distance. For different types of runs, the pace and speed need to be increased or decreased. A balance can be achieved by training and improving constantly.