Ed Curnow has responded favourably to the imposing presence of the three-time Olympian Craig Mottram, setting a club record for the 3.2-kilometre Princes Park time trial on the resumption of Carlton’s pre-season training for 2013.

The previous record has been held for a number of years by 1987 Carlton premiership player and current Board member Adrian “Bear” Gleeson.

Not that the 30-game midfielder is getting ahead of himself. As he said: “Adrian has got a Premiership Medallion in front of me, so I really need to worry about my footy”.

Nevertheless, Mottram’s showing at Princes Park impacted enormously on Curnow’s record-breaking feat, for it was the middle-distance runner’s encouragement that helped get him over the line in unprecedented fashion.

“I wanted to go quick and I was fortunate enough to have Craig Mottram running with me. He helped me out enormously, he was unreal,” Curnow said today at Visy Park.

“I was sitting on Craig’s heels and he talked to me the whole way. He’s a champion Olympic runner and I remember thinking “I can’t afford to drop off this bloke”.

Not content with the time trial result, Curnow contested the weekend’s Lorne Pier To Pub with fellow family members and friends (he’s pictured here at the finish line with his mother Cassie and sister Eliza), and of the 4000 participants he finished a creditable 50th in his category.

“I enjoy ocean water swimming like the Pier to Pub, my Mum, sisters, brother and Dad have all done it before, so I completed it with them and a few mates,” Curnow said.

“It was competitive, but there was also a bit of banter and it was good fun.”

Given that running is clearly his great forte, Curnow is homing in on game sense, touch and stoppage play. As he said: “You always want to improve on areas of your game and that’s where I see I can get better”.