Race bib protective pocket

In combination:

• an apparel item, at least a portion of which includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposite said outer surface;
• a race bib having numerals thereon identifying a race participant, a generally rectangular shape including a first length and a first width, and being substantially two-dimensional;
• and
• a protective pocket attached to said apparel item, said protective pocket having a generally rectangular shape complementary to said generally rectangular shape of said race bib and having a second length and second width complementary to said first length and said first width, respectively, of said race bib, said protective pocket including
• a mesh member having a perimeter including a first side, a second side, a third side opposite said first side, and a fourth side opposite said second side and adjacent an upper end of said mesh member, said mesh member cooperating with a portion of said outer surface of said apparel item to form said protective pocket therebetween, said protective pocket containing said race bib, said race bib obscuring said portion of said outer surface of said apparel item from view, said protective pocket having an opening adjacent said fourth side of said perimeter for permitting the insertion and removal of said race bib into and from said protective pocket, said mesh member further including a plurality of spaced apertures sized, shaped and arranged so as to facilitate visibility of said race bib and said numerals therethrough and to allow exposure of said race bib to elements encountered during a race;
• a border member extending along said first, second and third sides of said perimeter, said border member being secured to said outer surface of said apparel item;
• and
• closure means located adjacent said fourth side of said perimeter for selectively opening said opening of said protective pocket to allow insertion of said race bib into said protective pocket and for selectively closing said opening of said protective pocket to inhibit removal of said race bib from said protective pocket.