Let's meet David!

Meet the R4R Runners #100

Welcome to the 100th edition of the Meet the R4R Runners. 100 rags is a huge achievement for this community as it marks 100 stories shared. While they might only be snapshots into the lives of those we run or walk with, they are still insights into what resilience is and what struggle looks like.

Overcoming struggle requires comprehending it, and sometimes it’s easier to comprehend it when you’re looking at the same thing in someone else. Each rag has been uniquely great, and this week, it’s no different.

This week, we get to meet David, who’s a member of Rugby for Resilience and just an all round great man. He’s got this infectious personality (which might be his Scottish heritage), and my time is always better for seeing him. So, without further ado, let’s meet David!

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What is your name? 

David Primrose

Where are you from?

Scotland

What's your favourite thing about Canberra?

The quality and pace of life. You only need to visit big cities, especially overseas, to be reminded how fortunate we are to live in our relatively calm spaces.

How did you hear about R4R and when did you first attend?

Through friends (Tony and Maria) and I started coming last winter as we built towards City 2 Surf in August.

What's your favourite thing about R4R?

Beyond the joy of running, I love the sense of belonging and purpose. Some of the recent guests have been inspiring and I really enjoy it when we do themed events and when we are able to support others in the community who share similar goals.

What would you like to see R4R do?

We should just keep alive to opportunities for supporting each other and those who might need a chat and a friendly ear. Anything we can do to keep supporting each other is valuable.

What's the longest you've ever run? 

(Checks Garmin Connect!) It was a 15k run during COVID when gyms were shut and the open air was our only playground.

Are you planning on taking part in any races or events soon or are there any just gone?

Having originally sworn that the 2023 City to Surf would be my only crack at it, I am already super excited for the 2024 version along with the R4R funbus element!

Which three people (alive or dead) would you like to run or walk 6km with?

My wife Erika. She is on the long comeback from ACL surgery and has been heroic in the rehab and I can't wait for the day we can go for a wee joggette together.

My sister Alison. Based in London she was inspirational in doing the London Marathon a couple of years ago.

My Dad. My original role model who tackled the first Scottish People's Marathon back in 1982 and who I would love to be able to take a few strides with.

What does resilience mean to you?

I believe it is the ability to come out on the other side of adverse situations. I recognize that how people are able to do that will vary hugely. In my own case it was our ability to turn an awful situation (my Edinburgh business going bust in the GFC) into an opportunity to start a new life in Australia.

We were able to decide that we would view the whole thing as liberating and a chance for a new adventure. Since we arrived in Australia in 2012, we have constantly been telling ourselves that each day and experience is just another step in that adventure. Having said that, it was not easy in 2012 to start afresh and would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of friends and family.

Without a strong support network we might have shrunk back into despondency. Having those supportive voices and positive thinkers to give us confidence was incredibly important. We all experience doubt and sometimes it can be crippling. Our networks are so important in helping to get to the other side. I don't view myself as especially resilient but I do know that I have friends who will cover my back in a crisis and that is a wonderful thing to have.

When you look back on the hardest moment/s in your life, is there anything you wish you could have told yourself? 

That it will pass! Since being in some dark moments, whether they have been bereavement, personal or work related, I have gone on to have such great adventures and fun, I wished I could have assured myself that those moments lay ahead. I am probably better now at keeping a sense of perspective but it would have been nice to have had that wisdom in my 20's!

Thanks, David!

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Wagi Bridge Park Run

If you’re finding it hard to decide which Parkrun to go to, don’t worry about it. Some R4R crew are heading out to Wagi Bridge Parkrun to volunteer, so head down there to see some familiar faces.