It is one of the oldest forms of sport in humanity – perhaps the oldest. In terms of participation, it is the most popular athletics contest anywhere on the globe. In terms of publicity, it isn’t even on the map.
Cross country is the most basic form of sport. One competitor races another competitor, or one team races another team, over a course with the winner being the first to finish. It differs from road racing or track running principally in the course, which is generally a natural-terrain layout of grass, mud, woodlands and water; and scoring. The cross country “season” in temperate regions is run during autumn and winter when soft ground conditions prevail.