Engage in a bit of back-and-forth?

PACE

Think of how you might move while waiting impatiently, or the steady rhythm of a runner’s steps—both involve this short, repeated action.

"Engage in a bit of back-and-forth?" hints at the word "pace," playing on its double meaning. In conversation, "back-and-forth" can describe a verbal exchange, but here it subtly nods to the idea of moving forward and backward—like pacing. The word "pace" itself fits because it can mean both a steady speed and the act of walking back and forth, tying the clue’s phrasing neatly to the answer."