Walking can be as hard / harder on your feet / joints than running – tend to use a longer gait and take bigger impact on the heel – build-up slowly and use well-cushioned shoes, particularly if walking on pavements / hard surfaces. I’m training for a long-distance event and often break into an easy-jog to ease the pressure on my muscles / joints. Hoka Tor Ultra boots, Injinji toe socks for blister prevention recommended!
Walking poles can assist in terms of extra propulsion / all-over work-out with the right technique – I can add an extra km/hr to my speed i.e. 6 to 7 km/hr – which is quite substantial over 10 hours. Most people I see walking with poles appear to be using them as a fashion ‘accessory’. Get ones with a Nordic-style grip and strap – Alpkit have adjustable ones for £35.
I easily do 10,000 steps a day simply walking the dog, and general bumbling in a day. I’ve got a 66km ‘foot’ event in the Arctic in February – was originally down to do 150km but an injury has curtailed my training. Having done some multi-day arctic winter ultras on bike, the guys doing them on foot face a tougher challenge.