Steede's strong performances in three of the events.

Not only did Steede produce highly-respectable finishes in the Mile, 10K and Marathon, he also managed to come up with personal bests in each event. On Friday night he ran the Mile in just over five minutes (5:00.3), followed by a 10K finish which pushed him under the 37-minute barrier for the first time -- he was clocked at 36:42 -- and he completed the personal best hat-trick by finishing the Marathon under three hours.

Steede, who ran the New York Marathon last November in 3:03.40, finished in 2:59.16 on Sunday, attributing his success to "the fact that luck went my way.'' But it was more than just luck, since a determined Steede never strayed from a gruelling training regimen which included long runs on weekends and speedwork during the week.

In the afterglow of his weekend success Steede, 35, refused to rest on his laurels -- pounding the pavement for a pair of six-mile runs yesterday and on Monday.

"I thought it was a joy that I was actually able to finish the 10K with one of my best times,'' said Steede, who works for local law firm Appleby, Spurling and Kempe. "And to run the marathon under three hours at home... that brought me more joy than anything.'' Steede celebrated by going for lunch with his wife Connie and some close friends.

His performances, meanwhile, have given him some food for thought for at least two other events he's focussed on in 1995 -- the Boston Marathon and Marathon Derby.

Said Steede: "In the Mile it was after I came around the half-way point and getting a glimpse of the clock that I thought there was a possibility I could get close to five. And in the 10K it was when I got to the half-way point at 17:55 that I thought there was a possibility I could get under 37. I just ran for it after that.'' Steede admitted "feeling a little stiff'' prior to the Marathon, but was spurred on by crowd support.

"This has really been the ultimate,'' the Warwick resident said.

CAL STEEDE (32) sets off in Friday's Mile at the start of what proved to be a gruelling but successful weekend.