force the pace

To dictate how fast someone or something moves; to set the pace. They're the best team in the league, so we need to force the pace of the game if we want to have any chance of beating them. The new saleswoman blew away everyone else's weekly averages, forcing the pace for the entire team. Generally, if you let the other team force the pace, there's a good chance you're going to lose the game.

force the pace

adopt a fast pace in a race in order to tire out your opponents quickly.

force the ˈpace

(especially British English) make somebody do something more quickly or make something happen more quickly: The government is forcing the pace on economic reforms and the public don’t like it.

If you force the pace in a race, you force the other runners to run as fast as you because you want them to get tired.