can someone explain Strava to me?

[GreatLakes]

Strava is one of two things for most people:

1. A repository for data that they use themselves.
2. Socialization (or gamification) of fitness.

There is a growing trend in general, and fitness specifically, that allows people who don't physically interact to do so virtually. In fitness it allows those that don't train or race together to virtually do so. The social and competitive interactions that used to happen on group runs or rides or races can now be used to bring that same mentality to training. Like most things there will be people that overdo it and try to game the system to "win" but in general if it helps motivate you it is a good thing.