Other than training for professional sports isn't strength training purpose other than getting stronger meant to bring about a better quality of life?
Training means many different things to many people. Some guys, believe it or not, are more interested in their training than in hiking, for various reasons. Some of them might be: already hiked the AT and the PCT at some point in the past, and the local scenery might not be comparable; a nagging injury is aggravated by the 5 miles, while training does not bother it; his wife is not that interesting to him, especially 5 miles' worth; your wife is not that interesting to him under similar circumstances; your wife is too interesting to him, and he's operating in everybody's best interest here; he's training for PRs he knows he's not likely to get next year.
Hope this helps.