A father-of-two has set himself a target of running ’5k a day’ as part of his New Year’s resolution.

Ian Drake, the managing director of Rex Leasing, a car hiring business that was a finalist in the 2019 Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence, has eased into his daily routine of completing laps of Douglas or taking part in regular running events.

The total kilometres that he’d cover as part of his challenge over 366 days in the year - 2020 is a leap year - would amount to 1,830km.

’I set the challenge for a number of reasons,’ the former Union Mills and Corinthians footballer said.

’It is good for my mental health to keep up my wellbeing, as well as it being a positive thing for my general fitness and I would like to become better at running.’

When living in Ramsey he had less contact with friends, who were based in Douglas, and decided to join a running club which he ’took quite seriously’.

’I started to play football, but I picked up an injury and became a bit sluggish. Getting to that stage it affects your mind and mental health,’ he said.

With his life becoming ’hectic’ in trying to balance family time, running a business and recently moving back to Douglas in Farmhill, he looked on at the New Year and asked what he could do differently for himself.

’It was just a few days before New Year’s Day and I was thinking "I wonder what I can do?" I decided to do "5k a day" and have been doing it consistently and it’s a good thing to stick to.

’I like getting it out of the way in the morning, that way I can spend the day with the wife, Katie, and kids, Connie who is 12 and Jasper who is three. Hopefully I’ll get some people joining me. It’s always better to run with people.’

Mr Drake has committed to the five-mile Ramsey Bakery Firemen’s Run which takes place once a month over the winter period, but he is slightly nervous when looking at sticking to his challenge in future.

’My biggest concern is that I’ve got two stag dos coming up and one of them is over three days. I might try to get the boys running with me! Other than that, I’m pretty motivated and driven.’