Wow. I walk between 15 and 30 and during my best training might have gotten up to 45. But always in suburbs and usually on really nice hike and bike trails. I plan my walks when I know that there will be other people walking running and biking along those trails. Worse I’ve experienced is this one 6’4” guy who wears a skin tight flesh colored jogging suit. I have the police on speed dial because they want to talk to him.
I live on a sailboat, no refrigerator, so I’m encouraged to make frequent trips to the store. The place where I can live without hassle is the area nobody else wants, 5mi+ round trip through urban blight for the nearest store, so I’m walking long distances every other day, often returning bearing burdens. Now, I could take a bus, and in the beginning I would walk one way and take the bus home. But my fitness level increased where I did away with the bus and walked round trip unless I were ill or picking up something like an an appliance, too large to carry. Walking ten miles now doesn’t frag me out, it takes more time than effort.
I also focus a lot on the way I walk, on the balls of my feet, knees slightly bent, leaning slightly forward, legs springy. Muscles the shock absorbers, no impact on any joints, swiveling the hips, rotating the spine, doing “gripping” exercises with the hands, helps keep circulation in the arms going. Try walking “tiptoe” down the block as though you’re pursuing someone silently, and you’ll see how it becomes a different workout. Add a little spine rotation, hand exercises and some breathing meditation, and that’s my walking trip. Another martial artist gave me the tip that walking on tiptoe not only exercised your calves, but all the little controlling muscles that can help you step very precisely and close to a short distance very quickly. In conflicts this is a big deal.
And even as I post, I’m getting my java fix before heading out on a grocery run...walk, that is...