If someone can't stand the pace or can't take the pace, they cannot work as hard or as quickly or do as much as they are expected to. Most journalists think of colleagues who go into advertising as people who couldn't stand the pace in the real game. They were constantly testing me, as if to prove I couldn't take the pace. Note: People sometimes also say that someone can stand the pace or can take the pace. Assuming the band members can stand the pace, they could end up as successful as the Spice Girls.