I'm a long-distance runner averaging about 25-30 miles per week, and in the past (like around August or so) I experienced a throbbing pain in my right hip (my dominant leg is my right leg) after a week of doing seven miles a day (this probably wasn't the best idea and I'm not sure if this is what actually caused this pain). I figured that maybe it was because at that time, I didn't know much about the importance of specifically strengthening the hip muscles (I was definitely lifting weights already and cross training, but I was only doing arm weights, quadricep weights, and the elliptical). So, I purchased a gym membership and began using the hip abductor, adductor, and glute kickback machines several times a week. The pain disappeared practically instantly. For about three months or so, I was using hip machines regularly, but over the past month I resorted to only using resistance bands and doing repeated hip exercises with them with the hope of producing the same result. Up until today, I haven't had that pain. But, today, the pain reappeared as I was beginning a four-mile run. It didn't last throughout the whole duration of the run, but I still feel it some moments like when I walk. Not sure if it's because I didn't stretch before running properly today because I was in a hurry, or if my hips are just sore from doing the hip band exercises, or if I've been running too much and not strengthening my hips enough.

I'm pretty concerned about this and don't want to experience what I did a few months ago again. Is this a sign that I need to maybe just take a short break from running, maybe reduce the frequency of hip band exercises, or, as I've been thinking, return to the gym and get back to using actual hip strengthening weight machines again...?

If anyone has any advice, I'd love to hear it!