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.
Race Categories and MilestonesThe 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.
| Level | Laps Completed | Total Distance | Target Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle (New 2026) | 2 Laps | 9.2 Miles | Introductory finisher |
| Rabbit | 4 Laps | 18.4 Miles | Base award eligibility |
| Hawk | 8 Laps | 36.8 Miles | Mid-tier ultra |
| Dragon | 14 Laps | 64.4 Miles | Elite "Circle" status |
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.
Race Rules and Victory ConditionsFor 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.
May 09, 2026
Distance — 12 Hours
Type — Running
06:00
$110.00
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for May in Meridian.
Learn more about the host city, Meridian.
Meridian is a city in Mississippi. It was a titan of commerce of sorts during the Reconstruction era and up through the Great Depression, even after General Tecumseh Sherman had torched it, due to its being a hub to five major rail lines and manufacturing during its golden age. It is now a treasure trove for some of the architecture preserved from that period. Meridian is also noted for being the location of the US v. Cecil Price court case, where several Ku Klux Klan members were charged for the abduction and murder of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 in nearby Neshoba County, an event analogously portrayed in the film Mississippi Burning.
Read more launchWatch highlights and course previews from previous years.
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location_on Collinsville, Mississippi, US
calendar_today Apr 17, 2026
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