Right, looks like prices went up like $30-40, not a big deal.

So now the itinerary looks like this: ATL-ORD-LAX-IAH-LHR-BRU-JFK-LAX-ORD-ATL for 17274 miles at 1403.60 not bad at all. I was planning on grabbing the Costco AA GC's if they're still available when I go next week and just buy 5x$300 for $1350 and call it a day , but now that you mention the GLD challenge, I'll have one more option to consider.

P.S. Another option they gave me was : ATL-DFW-LAX-DFW-LHR-BRU-JFK-LAX-ORD-ATL, I guess this is why you call it a mileage run! I'll be at DFW twice in the same day :P