Circle of The Dragon

The Circle of the Dragon is a 12-hour endurance event held at Bonita Lakes Park in Meridian, Mississippi. Scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026, the race challenges participants to conquer a repetitive loop that gains difficulty with every pass. Beyond the athletic challenge, the event serves as a fundraiser for Care Lodge, a local organization supporting victims of domestic violence.

The event is structured around a tiered achievement system. Runners "level up" their awards by reaching specific distance milestones throughout the 12-hour window. New for 2026 is the Turtle Level, a dedicated short-distance division.

The course consists of a 4.6-mile loop around the "big lake" at Bonita Lakes Park, utilizing the Jeep trail road. Unlike technical single-track trails, this surface provides easy footing but features rolling hills that become increasingly deceptive as fatigue sets in. In early May, Meridian typically experiences warm, humid conditions with average highs of 28°C and morning lows of 14°C. The course offers picturesque lake views and is mostly shaded by mixed pine and hardwood forests. To maintain the environment, the event follows a "cupless" philosophy; runners must carry their own hydration containers to be refilled at the primary aid station.

For 2026, the victory rules have been updated: the overall winner is determined by the most loops completed within the 12-hour limit. If multiple runners complete the same number of laps (e.g., 14 loops), they may continue to attempt extra loops until the clock expires. If a runner fails to complete an extra loop before the 12-hour mark, the victory reverts to the runner who finished the previous highest lap count in the fastest time. All participants are monitored via RFID chip timing to track lap splits. A roving UTV provides mobile assistance and hydration refills between official aid station visits.