Azura's POV
"See you later beautiful." I whisper then I softly kiss my sleeping wife's head.
After I kiss my soulmate, I grab my running earbuds, phone, and phone armband then I leave our bedroom here in our Birmingham, Alabama airbnb.
The national team and I are in Birmingham ahead of our first friendly of the November friendly window.
Once out of my bedroom, I walk down stairs to the living room of the Airbnb then I quietly leave out the front door, put my earbuds in, put my phone in my bicep armband holder, start playing my latest audiobook, and begin my customary morning run.
I'm running the route I use to run when I live here, but I'm just starting from a different point on the route.
I'm also running 26.2 miles today which will be the first time I've ran a marathon distance since my injury.
Midway through my run I reach my old neighborhood so I look around and take in my old surroundings as I run.
"AZURA?" I hear an all to familiar lady shout making me smile. "BABY IS THAT YOU?"
"YES MA'AM." I shout as I pause my audio book.
"YOU STILL RUNNING." My old next door neighbor shouts as I run towards her.
"YES MA'AM." I shout.
"That's my girl." My old neighbor says as I get to her.
"Hey Auntie." I say as I look at the 60ish year old black woman.
"How ya been baby?" Miss Evelyn asks.
"Better than last time you saw me." I say then I raise my hand. "I'm married now."
"I saw that." Miss Evelyn says. "You should bring her by later today."
"I will." I say. "And I may have more people since I'm gonna show my friends around the old neighborhood."
"More mouths to feed means I make more money." Miss Evelyn says with a smirk.
Miss Evelyn makes some of the best soul food in the world
"That it does." I say.
"Well you get back to your running and I'll see you later"
"Yes Ma'am." I say
"And you owe me a hug later." Miss Evelyn says.
I chuckle and nod then I resume my audio book and continue my run.
Eventually I make it back to the Airbnb so I stop my watch timer.
"2 hours 45." I mumble.
I gotta shave off 24 minutes before the US Olympic Marathon trials in February.
"Long way to go." I mumble then I head inside the Airbnb.
Once inside I notice everyone on the team, even those who aren't staying in this specific Airbnb, are now here.
The Airbnb I'm staying in has the best and biggest kitchen so the team eats pretty much every meal here.
"Mama." I hear my baby cheerfully say as she runs over to me.
"Hi baby." I say as I watch Kehlani run up to me.
"You sweaty?" Kehlani asks.
"I am baby." I say. "Lemme shower then I'll give you a big ol hug."
Kehlani gives me a thumbs up then she runs back over to the ladies on the team so I head up to my room.
Once in my room, I strip out of my running clothes, put my phone on to charge, then I take a shower.
