Assembled in front of the BP gasoline station on the corner of Miller and Main streets, the members of the Gratitude Steel Band encouraged runners completing the final stretch of the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run with an upbeat rendition of Bob Marley and the Wailers' “Three Little Birds” and other steel drum standards.

Down the street, Aaron Tishkoft dutifully manned an iPod hooked to speakers in front of Tishkoff & Associates -- entertaining an assembled viewing party and passing runners with selections ranging from The Eagles' “Life in the Fast Lane” to “Run This Town” by Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West.

The Dexter-Ann Arbor Run provides runners with a wide variety of musical entertainment and encouragement throughout the race, but runners often march to the beat of their own MP3 player.

IPods and sweat-resistant ear buds reigned supreme as runners used playlists, shuffles and podcasts to progress through their designated course.

Hauscar Peralta, 34, of Ann Arbor kept it simple in the 5-kilometer race: “Salsa. I’m Latin, I love it. It's a great rhythm and it keeps me moving.”

Mericarmen Peralta, 32, of Grand Rapids also ran the 5K and took a more studious approach in making her musical selection, “I listened to the 'Couch to 5K' podcast. I got it off iTunes, and it's a mixture of electronic music and running instruction.”

Many stick to one or two artists.

“A lot of Tool and Rush,” said half marathon participant Don Murphy, 40, of Dearborn.

Benjamin Ramirez, 41, of Grand Rapids prefers, “Van Halen and Guns and Roses. I really like Van Halen.”

For 5K participant Emily Yesko, 29, of Ann Arbor its No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom album.

Lizze Weeden, 12, of Saline and the running group “Weeden Warriors” is partial to the beats of Kesha and Lady Gaga. “Fame Monster is a great album.”

Some runners keep a selection saved for the final stretch.

Bethanne Carey, 31 of Port Barrington, Ill., crossed the finish line to a “We are the Champions” remix off The Biggest Loser Workout Mix.

Davis Smith, 16, of Pinckney ran an impressive 1:34.27 in the half marathon and listens to mostly hard rock. For the final kick he turns to dubstep artist Chrispy. “it's a great beat to move to.”

Eric Apollo, 43 of Ann Arbor has a playlist consisting of mostly alternative rock, but his secret musical weapon?

“The theme song from the Olympics," Apollo said. "That really gets me going.”

What's on your running mix?