sore hips from running

[Thetallestsunflower]

I have recently started to run on the tread mill at the gym. Prior to this I was doing uphill walking but decided to embark on running after getting bored with this and also after being advised that holding onto the handles was bad for you.
I run 5k at a speed of about 9.5 after a five minute warm up. It has been going ok but yesterday I found towards the end of my run my hip joints were hurting a bit and they feel a bit achy today-by no means unbearable but there is a little pain there.
I have been working out 3-4 times a week for 3 months now and as I have said before while I am not very strong I am ok with cardio based stuff. I am not over weight or anything-am 5ft 10 and between 9 and 9st 7.
I am going to do low impact stuff today but am just a bit worried about why this pain occurred as I dieted a lot and was malnourished when I was younger and had spells without menstruating so I constantly worry about getting osteoarthritis . Is it just age-I'm 34?

It's more likely to be your trainers. Have you had your gait checked? Feet will effect hips. Also are your legs the same length?

Also you might be better running outside as there is more variation underfoot

I'm by no means a running expert but I think maybe you need to build up a bit slower - so less distance, or slower or both for a few weeks? I had hip/back of bottom ache and the physio told me to do lots of stretches for the ITB band (over a foam roller) and calf/thigh stretches (lie on floor with one leg straight up with a belt round the sole of your foot that you hold onto to increase the stretch. And doing clam exercises to strengthen (lie on side with knees together and sort of 90 degrees, and then open your knees keeping the heels together, repeat). I think she also had me doing squats.

You might want to get your gait checked at a running shoe shop and get some really good trainers for you gait. I overpronate and so I need moulded insoles, that could be your problem too?

I get a pain that sounds very similar and it was diagnosed as itb pain. Might be worth booking into see a sports therapist or physio just to get it checked out though but some strengthening exercises are probably the way to go

Have you tried running outside? I find treadmill running makes my hips sore as the treadmill action kind of drags my legs back behind me. Just a thought if you could give running outside a try and see if you still get it or not?

It could just be your body getting used to a repetitive movement. My hip flexors ached when I started running but after a while it didn't hurt any more.

As per previous posters, don't scrimp on the strength training. Running is hard work on your body and strong muscles are essential. Core and legs or you'll end up with stress fractures (speaking from experience!). And definitely get decent trainers. Runners Need are very helpful.

Is it a muscular pain or right in the joint?

Does it feel like a burning pain on the outside of the widest part of your hips? I had this and it was ITB (as someone up thread also suggested). On the good side I think it is often easily sorted with good stretching to loosen up the overly tight ITB.

I got hip joint pain after running (just a couple of miles, slowly!) on pavements, even after I'd got some good shoes that helped my overpronation. A friend who's a serious long-distance runner suggested that more variation underfoot might help - a lumpy canal towpath causes me no pain.

Hi again-its definitely joint pain not muscular. Its the ball and socket area. I think it probably is to do with my posture and running style as I am not an experienced runner-I was crap at it at school lol.
However, I work in a college where they do a sports therapy degree so after the Easter holidays I will book in to the sports therapy clinic there and see one of the students or the tutor.
In the mean time I am going to go a bit easier on the running as last time what ended up putting me off the gym for ages was when I got obsessed with pushing myself to run and I ended up hating it.
Is the cross trainer still a good workout-it looks to burn the same number of calories as a treadmill run but feels a lot easier in comparison.