Distance runner Chris Carver aims to emulate the medal-winning standard set by fellow Otley sports star Lizzie Armitstead after being selected to represent the United Kingdom.

While cyclist Armitstead was winning Britain’s first medal at the Olympics in London, taking silver in the women’s road race, Carver was pounding the streets preparing for his own forthcoming challenge.

He will compete at the World 24-Hour Running Championships in Katowice, Poland, on September 8-9.

It will be the fifth time Carver has represented England or the UK in 24-hour races since October 2006, when he first attempted to run for a whole day.

In these five events he has won gold and silver medals in the Commonwealth Championships and a bronze in the European Championships. Carver also has a gold medal from an international race in Perth, Scotland, in 2010 while setting his current personal best of just over 238 kilometres (148 miles).

In Poland he will be aiming not only for another medal but also to run 150 miles – almost six marathons – in a single day. But he also has even further distances in mind.

Carver revealed: “Next summer I have the new and exciting challenge of a 48-hour race to look forward to – and maybe the World Championships in the Netherlands in May.”