London Athletes Q&A
Lianne Sanderson
In London....
Where’s your favourite place to train:
Indoors:
N/A
Outdoors:
Crystal Palace Sports Centre — it’s what I’m used to as I’ve been training there for a number of years, the facilities could be better but it’s got a good amount of athletes, good banter, and we all share each other’s experiences.
What do you do to improve your:
Balance:
Put one foot on a pillow, or use a flexible woggle board.
Core:
Planks and sit ups, or hold a weight and lift your legs up off the floor and do twenty reps on alternating sides. Planks are the easiest though and you can do them on your side or front for 30 seconds and build them up.
Strength:
Lots of weights and things like snatch bench presses.
Cardio:
Get on the cross trainers, bikes or running machines. I prefer the bike or the running machine as they’re more specific to my sport, but the cross trainer is as good a workout.
Flexibility:
Stretching, jumping between weights, even things like yoga can help.
Where do you like to go to watch/participate in other sports?
I like tennis a lot and like to go to see the athletes, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet a couple of them too, so I look forward to Wimbledon every Summer. I like playing golf and basketball, but I don’t really get a lot of time.
If you could train anywhere in London, restrictions removed, where would you go?
Crystal Palace because it’s what I know and where I train — it has everything that I need. The one place I’d like to work out at is Virgin Active; the gyms are always nice and there’s a lot of equipment, and a nice sauna and steam room — it’s important for me to chill out after a workout.
Where do you celebrate your victories?
I like to go for meals, spend time with my family and go out with my team. Because we’re the England team we’re from all over the country, so it’s rare that we’re all in the same place at the same time. One of my friend’s is a club promoter so we go to China White, Club de Paris or Kanaloa — they feel safe and secure. It’s not about the expense — sure there’s girls who are just there to bag a footballer, but I like them cos they’re the sort of places where you don’t get troublemakers. I guess they’re like marmite — you either love them or hate them.
Where do you go to get away from it all?
I like to go on holiday, when I can I go abroad — even if it’s just for a weekend, though it’s a rarity that we get time off. If you do football all the time though, it can become too much. One of my best friend’s lives in Portugal, which I like as well as Spain because they’re quite close — and I love America, obviously I’m moving there next month to play and I’m looking forward to it. I also go to Sheffield a lot — it’s not that far away but it’s really different to where I’m from. There’s loads of people here, and I can chill out there.
What do you do to relax?
I listen to music, go to a lot of concerts, and eat at nice restaurants. I love to chill out really, if I had the choice to go out for dinner or go clubbing, I’d choose dinner, I like places like Chinatown and Gilgamesh.
What do you do to treat yourself?
I shop — people always say to me "what do you buy someone who has everything?" But I’m in a position to buy myself nice stuff now, and I like nice clothes and to look presentable — so if I see something and I like it, I’ll buy it. It doesn’t have to always be designer stuff — though my favourite label is D&G — I also shop at Camden Market, H&M and All Saints.
What songs on your iPod really get you inspired?
Pink, Beyonce.
Lil’ Wayne and Jay Z.
Rhianna — Hard.
Forever — Drake & Eminem.
What has been your career highlight so far?
Winning the quadruple with Arsenal. And personally, scoring 52 goals in 38 games. I just enjoy wining. Can’t beat it.
What do you see as being your ultimate victory?
Winning the quadruple and playing in a European cup final and the World cup.
What things count as everyday victories?
If people set themselves everyday goals, I think you can achieve anything. My Dad always taught me to be ambitious, because that brings success. Even if it’s not sports related, set yourself daily, weekly and monthly hypothetical targets. I said by the time I was 18 I’d have my own business, and now I do.
How did you get started in sports?
My family is football obsessed, since I was in a pram I was watching my dad play. If you’ve got a passion for something you follow it, whether it’s football, or being a doctor, lawyer or nurse.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
Definitely something practical, nothing 9-5, it’s not me. I’d be doing something like dancing or teaching as a PE teacher.
Things you love outside of sport:
Going to concerts, watching Man United play football, hanging out with friends, and making the most of my life — I’m living my dream playing for my club and my country.
Any advice for others trying to get active?
Set yourself a target and aim for it, the sky’s the limit. Be disciplined in what you want to do, whether it’s getting into sport or just getting healthy. It’s hard to get going but feels so good afterwards, and makes you feel good about yourself.
