Hey everyone, I'm Eric from Colorado. I've been using Strava since 2013 and it has been an integral part of my athletic life.
These are the areas where I feel I've benefited the most...
1) Motivation. This tool has been a huge motivator in my training. Keeping track of PRs, chasing KOMs, improving on previous attempts. Segments motivate me a whole lot more than doing "intervals".
2) Inspiration. I've found great ideas of places to ride, run, and activities to try by seeing what other people are doing. I can go anywhere in the world and find cool places instantly, or find places in my own area that I didn't know about.
3) Creative outlet. In addition to being a training log where I can write and journal about my daily activities, I enjoy posting pictures from those activities. As an artist that doesn't do art for a living, I often don't find much time for art. Strava gives me a platform to find and share something beautiful every day (even though it's "just" a snap from my iphone), keeping my creative eye sharp.