Why Dillon Cuthrell Swaps Stadiums for Forests Between Games

 

For most athletes, recovery between games means stretching sessions, ice baths, or spending hours in the gym. For me, recovery often looks a little different—it means lacing up a different pair of shoes and heading deep into the forest.

You might wonder why a soccer player Dillon Cuthrell would trade floodlit stadiums and turf fields for muddy trails, towering trees, and the quiet rustle of leaves. The truth is, the forest offers something no training facility ever has: balance.

Nature doesn’t just help me recover physically—it helps me reconnect mentally and emotionally. It teaches, resets, and reminds me of who I am beyond the athlete persona. That’s why, between matches and training, I often find myself not in a locker room or watching match footage, but walking alone in the woods, fully present in the moment.

Here’s why I choose the forest just as often as I choose the field.

1. The Forest Clears My Head

Soccer is fast-paced and intense. You’re constantly making decisions, reacting to opponents, listening to coaches, and pushing your limits. It’s a high-adrenaline environment that leaves little room for stillness.

After a match, my mind usually buzzes—replaying moments, analyzing plays, sometimes even doubting myself. That’s when I know I need to reset. And for me, the best reset doesn’t come with screens or schedules. It comes with silence.When I walk into the forest, everything slows down. The noise quiets. My thoughts begin to settle. I stop thinking about the last pass I missed or the next match I have. I just breathe.That headspace—free of noise and pressure—is where I do my best mental recovery.

2. Nature Keeps Me Grounded

Stadiums are electric. The energy of the crowd, the bright lights, the roaring chants—it’s thrilling, and I love every second of it. But when the final whistle blows and the crowd disperses, there’s a strange emptiness that can settle in.That’s where the forest comes in. It doesn’t cheer or demand. It doesn’t judge or expect. It just is.

Spending time in nature reminds me that I’m more than the game. It grounds me in something bigger—something older and wiser than any match or medal. When I’m surrounded by trees that have been standing for hundreds of years, it puts everything into perspective.I realize I’m a part of a much larger system, and whether I win or lose, I still belong. That realization helps me stay humble in victory and resilient in defeat.

3. It’s the Ultimate Recovery Zone

Many athletes focus intensely on physical recovery—massages, compression therapy, hydration. I do all of that too. But nature offers a kind of recovery that goes beyond muscles and joints. It resets the nervous system.Walking or hiking in nature—especially after a high-pressure game—helps regulate my breathing, lower my stress levels, and ease my body back into a calm, balanced state. It’s like a mental massage.

Sometimes I’ll do light movement in the woods—stretching, yoga, or mobility flows. Other times, I’ll simply walk, sit, and observe. The forest is always ready, always open, and always healing.

4. It Helps Me Listen to My Body

As athletes, we’re trained to push through pain, fight fatigue, and ignore discomfort. But that can be dangerous if we lose the ability to truly listen to our bodies.

When I’m in nature, there’s no scoreboard or stopwatch. That space gives me permission to slow down and check in—Am I tired? Am I sore? Am I holding stress anywhere? Nature doesn’t rush me. It encourages awareness, not just activity.That awareness has helped me avoid injuries, improve my training schedule, and be more in tune with my personal limits. I’ve learned that rest is not weakness—it’s wisdom.

5. It Reignites My Creativity and Joy

Playing soccer professionally can, at times, become robotic. Practice, travel, match, repeat. Even the game I love can start to feel like a job.But the forest reminds me what freedom feels like. It brings back the joy.

Out there, I’ll sometimes bring a ball with me—not to drill, but just to play. I’ll juggle by the riverbank, do light footwork on a trail, or create small goals between trees. There’s no structure, no pressure—just movement, creativity, and fun.Those moments reignite my passion. They remind me why I fell in love with the game in the first place—not for the trophies, but for the feeling.

6. Nature Teaches Me Lessons I Bring Back to the Pitch

The forest is a silent teacher. It doesn’t speak, but it shows. And what it’s shown me has changed the way I play and train.

Patience: Growth takes time.

Adaptability: Trails are never predictable, just like games. You adjust or you trip.

Presence: Focus on the moment. That’s where true performance happens.

Resilience: Storms come and go. Bend, don’t break.

These aren’t just nature lessons—they’re life lessons. And they’ve made me a smarter, more centered, and more consistent athlete.

7. A Place to Be Dillon—Not Just the Player

In stadiums, I’m Dillon Cuthrell the soccer player. I’m watched, judged, and celebrated for my performance. But in the forest, I’m just Dillon. No jersey. No stats. Just a person, breathing and being.That return to self is vital. It keeps me connected to my core—who I am outside the spotlight.