Strava tracks running, cycling, swimming, and other activities using GPS, then shares the data with a community of athletes. You can see your pace, distance, elevation, heart rate, and route on a map. The social element is central: friends can give kudos, leave comments, and compare efforts on segments — short stretches of road or trail where times are ranked. For many people, that friendly competition is what keeps them motivated.

The platform works with most GPS watches and phones, and there's a free tier with basic tracking and a paid subscription that adds advanced analytics, route planning, and safety features. Strava also hosts challenges and clubs, and its data has been used in city planning and infrastructure research. Whether you're training for a race or just trying to stay active, it adds a social layer to solo exercise.