Buttsweat Towel© season has begun

Here is one hip exercise, well it works hip and a bit of the other main glute muscle:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/exercises.asp?exercise=149

It can be made harder by using ankle weights later on

Also google the figure four stretch. Whether or not to stretch/stretngthen the area after injury is tricky but if it is weak I guess it needs working on. I think if you are very careful and start gently with a few repeats it should be ok. Stretching is good so you don't lose the range of motion though.

Chris, thanks - I will ease into the hip exercises; I do stretch them pretty often throughout the day. Last night I tried a few sets of the second glute exercise you posted (the one with the 1 straight leg) and I think that one works well for me though my balance stinks; probably means it's a good thing I'm working on it. I will try a few sets of the other one tonight.

Thanks, I really appreciate the time and the info!

Great job, Joe. Chris, thanks for the exercises, too. They're helping me too. Enjoy the cooler weather, Joe. I hear it's a little hot over there in Iraq! Lows in the 80s, but you're used to that. Just watch out for the camel pies when you're running. :-p

Balance will definitely improve! Some of the way those exercises work is they stretncgthen/improve the ability of the calf to keep the leg straight which in turn stops the glute getting beat up so much. I am now much better at standing on one leg...

It took about 2 weeks for me for the soreness to go away (so you can expect this possibly), this is kind of normal as the body adapts.