---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They say that pace is the first thing to…"
description: "\"They say that pace is the first thing to go, but my game was never based on pace. It was about strength and power and withstanding challenges and getti..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/mark-hughes-16397_challenges_they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to_1480553.jpg"
---

#  They say that pace is the first thing to go, but my game…

![“They say that pace is the first thing to go, but my game was never based on pace. It was about strength and power and withstanding challenges and getting in the right position.” quote by Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/mark-hughes-16397_challenges_they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to_1480553.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/mark-hughes-16397_challenges_they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to_1480553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/mark-hughes-16397_challenges_they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to_1480553.jpg)

> “They say that pace is the first thing to go, but my game was never based on pace. It was about strength and power and withstanding challenges and getting in the right position.”

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He emphasizes strength, power, and strategic positioning over speed, focusing on resilience and tactical advantage in competition.

**In simple terms:** Strength and strategy matter more than speed.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize power and positioning over speed.

Themes

sports strategy strength resilience competition

Mood

determined focused

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- team sports
- individual contests
- training regimes
- career planning

Key Concepts

tactical planning physical conditioning

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance speed with strength?
- When is positioning more important than speed?

A Different Perspective

Speed can still be crucial in many contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Based Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based-pace-5394960/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pace/) [Pace Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pace-strength-533325/) [Pace Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pace-thing-5394959/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Say Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-pace-5394961/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strength And Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-and-power/)

## Related quotes

> [Paulinho provides pace, strength and quality goals in the middle of the park.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/paulinho-provides-pace-strength-and-quality-goals-in-the-middle-of/)

[Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/)

> [A change of pace in terms of your running pace will give you strength psychologically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rodgers/a-change-of-pace-in-terms-of-your-running-pace-will-give-you-strength/)

[Bill Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rodgers/)

> [It's being willing to walk away that gives you strength and power - if you're willing to accept the consequences of doing what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/it-s-being-willing-to-walk-away-that-gives-you-strength-and-power-if/)

[Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/)

> [“However, while Western principles were the major source of inspiration for Hatt- I Serif of Gulhane, the document itself made a notable effort to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/however-while-western-principles-were-the-major-source-of-inspiration/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“The Green Man has also become synonymous with Cernunnos, the Celtic horned God, often portrayed in Celtic art as part man, part stag, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-carlton/the-green-man-has-also-become-synonymous-with-cernunnos-the-celtic/)

[Carole Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-carlton/)

> [I am not that fast and skilful. I am not Raheem Sterling, am I? So I know I have to use my strength and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-mitrovic/i-am-not-that-fast-and-skilful-i-am-not-raheem-sterling-am-i-so-i/)

[Aleksandar Mitrovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-mitrovic/)

> [“Compliance with the law of the fast would call attention to the sin of over-eating, place the body in subjection the the spirit, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-smith/compliance-with-the-law-of-the-fast-would-call-attention-to-the-sin/)

[Joseph F. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-smith/)

> [Imagine what might happen if women emerged from their labor beds with a renewed sense of the strength and power of their bodies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/imagine-what-might-happen-if-women-emerged-from-their-labor-beds-with/)

[Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/)

> [Everyone has a struggle in life, and the question is do you allow yourself to be overcome by it or do you master it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-draiman/everyone-has-a-struggle-in-life-and-the-question-is-do-you-allow/)

[David Draiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-draiman/)

> [Strength and power are as different as moon and sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xuen/strength-and-power-are-as-different-as-moon-and-sun/)

[Xuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xuen/)

> [Keep your mind as much as you can from dwelling on your ailment. Think of strength and power and you will draw it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prentice-mulford/keep-your-mind-as-much-as-you-can-from-dwelling-on-your-ailment-think/)

[Prentice Mulford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prentice-mulford/)

> [I've seen women essentially martyr themselves for the good of the future and the good of their children and, again, the good of love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-buffett/i-ve-seen-women-essentially-martyr-themselves-for-the-good-of-the/)

[Peter Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-buffett/)

> [“Dear Father, I pray to you in the name of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and I confess my sins to you and ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/dear-father-i-pray-to-you-in-the-name-of-your-dear-son-jesus-christ/)

[Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/)

> [We've always tried to convey these strong messages of strength and power and doing good in the world and, at the same time, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/we-ve-always-tried-to-convey-these-strong-messages-of-strength-and/)

[Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/)

> [When I wrote my fictional novels, they always had a starting point of something real. Those images that are not real are exactly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/when-i-wrote-my-fictional-novels-they-always-had-a-starting-point-of/)

[Karl Ove Knausgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/)

## More by Mark Hughes

> [Management is not about shouting and bawling, because some guys will not like that. They take it personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/management-is-not-about-shouting-and-bawling-because-some-guys-will/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [Football's become a non-contact sport, and that's spoiled a lot of the fun for a lot of the people, including spectators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/football-s-become-a-non-contact-sport-and-that-s-spoiled-a-lot-of-the/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [All the major sports have video reviews, and for some reason, the Premier League, which is watched all around the world, is still in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/all-the-major-sports-have-video-reviews-and-for-some-reason-the/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [I would like to think that during my time at Stoke - and other clubs I was at - I was always a manager…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/i-would-like-to-think-that-during-my-time-at-stoke-and-other-clubs-i/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [The perception is that the Stoke players were one-dimensional: that they could only play in a certain way, and that was the top and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/the-perception-is-that-the-stoke-players-were-one-dimensional-that/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [When I first signed schoolboy forms for United, as a midfield player, I felt for a while that I was just treading water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/when-i-first-signed-schoolboy-forms-for-united-as-a-midfield-player-i/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [As a player, I had no idea whatsoever about getting a team ready for a game, what it entails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/as-a-player-i-had-no-idea-whatsoever-about-getting-a-team-ready-for-a/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [I'd knock people over and bruise their pride, but I never went out to hurt people. That is not acceptable, and I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/i-d-knock-people-over-and-bruise-their-pride-but-i-never-went-out-to/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [Sometimes the manager actually is the glue that holds everything together, and when you take that manager out, sometimes that's when things start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/sometimes-the-manager-actually-is-the-glue-that-holds-everything/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [At United, there has been continuity with the manager, with the success they have had. It gives them a different dynamic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/at-united-there-has-been-continuity-with-the-manager-with-the-success/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [When I come away from the ground, I'm quite quiet, but I like match day - that's when I come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/when-i-come-away-from-the-ground-i-m-quite-quiet-but-i-like-match-day/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [I had no direct experience of a relegation scrap, but with Wales, I never had the luxury of being allowed to lose games. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/i-had-no-direct-experience-of-a-relegation-scrap-but-with-wales-i/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [Clearly, there comes a point where you have to demand from your front guys; goals is what sustain attackers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/clearly-there-comes-a-point-where-you-have-to-demand-from-your-front/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [The four and a half years I had at Stoke is something I will always look back on with pride because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/the-four-and-a-half-years-i-had-at-stoke-is-something-i-will-always/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

> [Every United player understands what United is about. The players understand it is a privilege to play for United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/every-united-player-understands-what-united-is-about-the-players/)

[Mark Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

[Explore all 40 Mark Hughes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/)

## More Challenges quotes

> [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/)

[Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/)

> [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/)

[Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/)

> [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/)

[Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/)

> [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/)

[Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/)

> [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/)

[Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/)

> [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/)

[Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/)

> [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/)

[Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/)

> [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/)

[Whitney Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-gaskell/)

> [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/)

[Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/)

> [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/)

[Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/)

> [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/)

[Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/)

[Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "They say that pace is the first thing to go, but my game was never based on pace. It was about strength and power and withstanding challenges and getting in the right position.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mark Hughes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to-go-but-my-game-was-never/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Challenges"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to-go-but-my-game-was-never/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/mark-hughes-16397_challenges_they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to_1480553.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/mark-hughes-16397_challenges_they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to_1480553.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/mark-hughes-16397_challenges_they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to_1480553.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“They say that pace is the first thing to go, but my game was never based on pace. It was about strength and…” — Mark Hughes",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mark Hughes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hughes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "They say that pace is the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to-go-but-my-game-was-never/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hughes/they-say-that-pace-is-the-first-thing-to-go-but-my-game-was-never/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
