Long distance runner Paula Radcliffe has insisted that her career is not over.
The 38-year-old, who has participated in just one marathon since 2009, lost her National Lottery funding in October when UK Athletics removed her from the World Class Performance Programme.
Radcliffe pulled out of the 2012 London Olympics because of a foot injury and is currently recovering from the operation she underwent in August.
"I'm kind of at that crossroads coming off a big surgery and I desperately don't want my career to be finished," she told BBC Sport.
"It's (recovery to fitness) going in the right direction. I'm staying really positive and the goal is to be back running by Christmas and building up to racing next year.
"I would love to be in London 10 years on from setting the world record there, but I think that is going to be very close and I'm more likely looking at a 10K race or half-marathon in the spring, building up to a marathon in the autumn."
Radcliffe won the London marathon in 2002, 2003 and 2005.
Subhankar Mondal
