Dogfish I would suggest you try to get back to a routine that includes sit ups and weight training, I did my back in (slipped a disc I think) about 5 years ago and then stopped sit ups etc, and then continued running but not much else except a bit of cycling and I think the lack of core strength combined with lots of running caused lots of problems to develop with my hips and back. Cyclops mentioned this imbalance on another thread an it makes a lot of sense to me. Also, Christopher Leigh told me a while back that if I did (appropriate) weight training I would not need to stretch and I didn't believe him but he was right. Good luck.