Looking back through my step history on my phone, I can tell which days we don't walk "all the way to the sign." We usually walk Freya to the stop sign which is about 7/8 mile from the house. If it's icky weather, we go out to the mailbox, which is a 1/4 mile.
IF you are walking somewhere away from traffic, how about taking some music to listen to?
Please don't put in ear buds and walk down the street, or on a railroad track... People die when they don't hear a car, and the car doesn't see them in time to stop.
Challenge yourself to do 50 paces of speed walk, and then 100 paces of regular. Or whatever combo works for you. Do that for a week. Then do 60 paces, or whatever, but up it by 10-20%, while staying at the same number of paces of regular.
If you commit to doing this, you'll be surprised at...
I walk with Freya. I am NOT a runner. Never have been.
One time I had to run a short distance, then perform a skill for a class. I outran the old man with the cane. Everyone else was way ahead of me. 🤦♀️