Thanks to the added $30,000 bonus from the "ING Run for Something Better" program for women, the top prize for the 2005 ING New York City Marathon is now an all time record high $130,000. It is actually the largest first-place prize in the entire Marathon history. Recently Mary Wittenberg -president of New York Road Runners and the race director of the 2005 New York City Marathon -had made the announcement stating: "...Today in collaboration with our partners at ING, New York Road Runners takes another milestone step in the support and encouragement of women's running..."

She had further added: "...We believe this to be the first time that any major sports event has put up more money for the women¹s winner than for the men’s. So we are breaking ground not only in the sport of long-distance running but in all of sport..."

The total prize that the men’s (as well as women's) champion of the 2005 NY City Marathon race on Sunday, November 6, is USD $100,000.

However, there is now an additional $30,000 ("ING Run for Something Better") prize that will be awarded to the women’s top runner.

Additional prize monies are also going to be similarly available to the women¹s second-place ($20,000 additional + the usual $45,000), third-place ($10,000 additional + the usual $30,000), and fourth-place ($5,000 additional + the usual $20,000) winners.

The ING Run for Something Better program seeks to heighten the competition in the women’s field and benefits children throughout New York City. In addition to the cash prizes that the first four women finishers receive, a sizable cash donation is also made in each of those runner's names to youth running and fitness programs in the New York City schools and parks.

Additionally, the top winners in both the men's and the women's race will also (each) receive a smart car.