Brookhaven residents D.C. Greer and Jim McKennon have committed to challenge themselves daily to lead active and healthy lifestyles as they advance in age, working to stay in shape and promote healthy living for senior citizens everywhere.

Both Greer, 66, and McKennon, who turns 68 this week, said their age does not affect their competitiveness or drive to compete.

“It is making a mental choice. It starts between the ears to having a healthy lifestyle,” said Greer, explaining the secret to getting out and staying active at any age is a combination of will power and determination.

Greer, who has diabetes, works out regularly at King’s Daughters Medical Center Fitness Center for target training and track three to five times a week and competes locally and nationally at the Senior Olympics.

“I am 66 and in the best shape of my life, but I have always been competitive. The whole thing isn’t about me though, I want to help others seniors like myself have a better life and the senior Olympics develops character through competition,” he said.

Greer wants to help other seniors challenge themselves to stay active in a fun way, but said that it does not necessarily have to be track they compete in.

“There are 18 different categories in the senior Olympics, you don’t have to run or sprint if you can’t, but pick something you can do and work toward it,” Greer said.

The Senior Olympics offer categories to compete in such as throwing horseshoes to sprinting to appeal to a broader demographic of older citizens who have varying physical abilities.

McKennon, who just finished competing in Phil Bryant’s Governor’s 5K, said he continually challenges himself as a senior adult to see how far he can push himself.

“I try find someone in the race who looks close to my age and try to beat them; I am not interested in beating a 20-something, but I do want to challenge myself,” said McKennon.

This week, he is staying true to his promise to himself by running 68 miles the week of his 68th birthday.

So far, he has run 15 miles per day and plans to slowly decrease the miles per day and finish up his running on Saturday to complete his mileage.

“I used to eat anything I wanted to and I didn’t really worry about anything until I was about 50, now I pay a little more attention, “McKennon laughed.

McKennon gets up every morning in his normal routine and runs five miles through his neighborhood every day and said he thought his treadmill was boring.

“I have one, but you’ll see me running near my home most days,” Said McKennon.

Sharing a few of his tips on running, McKennon explained how he keeps up with his daily miles. He uses Fitbit, a digital pedometer, that lets him check his mileage by using his smart phone or home computer.

McKennon has placed either first or second in all of his races this past month including the Tomato Festival 5K in Crystal Springs and a 5K in Hazlehurst, which he described as “Hilly.”

McKennon said the Hazlehurst race, put on by the local First Baptist Church, was a tough one for him, but he made great friends and memories.

“I have competed all over America running,” he said, “and I am amazed that we have a world-class race right next door.”

McKennon explained the race was just as hard and challenging as others he has competed in a thousand miles away, and he commended First Baptist on their event.

Both McKennon and Greer encourage other seniors to compete and also to support competitors.

Greer said, “My whole goal is to make seniors aware of their opportunities and to generate support from the community for senior athletes.”