'Cross-country running'  is a sport in which teams of runners compete to complete a course over open or rough terrain faster than other teams.  It differs from road running or athletics (track and field) track running principally in the course, which may include grass, mud, woodlands, and water.   In its scoring system, teams are typically composed of between four and twelve runners.  It is a popular participatory sport, and usually takes place in temperate regions during the autumn and winter when soft conditions underfoot prevail.