More Than My Story
Hi, I’m Colleen Riddle.
My journey didn’t begin with pickleball, speaking, or writing books. It began with a lifelong search for confidence, connection, and a place where I truly belonged. Today, that journey has become my life’s work.
Helping People Find
Confidence,
Connection and Joy.
And this is my story.
I spent much of my life trying to figure out where I fit.
Growing up as the youngest of six, so much younger than my brothers and sisters, I was always just ‘little Colleen’ — tagging along, in the room but not really part of the conversation. My opinion didn’t carry much weight when everyone older had already decided. It wasn’t unkind — it was just the math of being the baby of a big family. But somewhere in all that tagging along, I started believing that belonging was something you had to earn, or wait for, or hope someone remembered to include you in.
That feeling followed me into adulthood more than I realized. Through different seasons of life, careers, challenges, and reinventions, I kept chasing the same thing: a place where my voice actually mattered.
It took years of personal growth to understand how deeply that search had shaped me — and to realize that the thing I’d been looking for my whole life was exactly what I was meant to help others find.
But The Story Starts Much Earlier.
Long before pickleball, before coaching, before writing books and building communities…
It started with my mom.
My mom was my person. We bonded over everything — makeup, skincare, the little rituals that made a house feel like home. She shared her beauty secrets like family heirlooms, never knowing how deeply they’d stay with me.
Then one day after swim practice, my dad told me my mom had ovarian cancer. For ten years, I watched her fight with incredible strength. That journey shaped who I am — it taught me that showing up for the people you love isn’t a one-time thing, it’s a daily choice, and that our bodies and our time with each other are never guaranteed.
After she passed, I turned my grief into purpose. I became an ACE-Certified Personal Trainer, founded Elite Physique Personal Training, and spent more than two decades helping people become stronger, healthier, and more confident — because somewhere in losing her, I learned that taking care of each other is the whole point.
This Is Home.
Where confidence, connection, and joy finally came together.
Today, life looks a little different.
I’m grateful to call the beautiful Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida home.
If you can’t find me, there’s a good chance I’m on a pickleball court, walking the beach, or sitting on my back porch with a cat in my lap.
I’ve been married to my wonderful husband and best friend, John, for nearly three decades. He’s my rock, my biggest cheerleader, and the reason I never have to do any of this alone.
This Is Home.
Where confidence, connection, and joy finally came together.
Today, life looks a little different.
I’m grateful to call the beautiful Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida home.
If you can’t find me, there’s a good chance I’m on a pickleball court, walking the beach, or sitting on my back porch with a cat in my lap.
I’ve been married to my wonderful husband and best friend, John, for nearly three decades. He’s my rock, my biggest cheerleader, and the reason I never have to do any of this alone.
So I Wrote A Book.
When I began writing Came for the Game, Stayed for the People, I thought I was simply telling remarkable stories about pickleball. But as I wrote, I realized the stories were really about courage, friendship, healing, and the communities that quietly change our lives.
That’s also why I created Quietly Brave. I didn’t want readers to simply finish the last page—I wanted them to have a place to pause, reflect, and discover what those stories might awaken in their own lives
Whether I’m coaching on the court, speaking from a stage, leading retreats, or writing, my mission is the same: helping people build confidence, connection, and a life they truly love
I am also the co-author of 333: The Power of Equilibrium, a collaborative book exploring balance across body, mind, and spirit.
So I Wrote A Book.
When I began writing Came for the Game, Stayed for the People, I thought I was simply telling remarkable stories about pickleball. But as I wrote, I realized the stories were really about courage, friendship, healing, and the communities that quietly change our lives.
That’s also why I created Quietly Brave. I didn’t want readers to simply finish the last page—I wanted them to have a place to pause, reflect, and discover what those stories might awaken in their own lives
Whether I’m coaching on the court, speaking from a stage, leading retreats, or writing, my mission is the same: helping people build confidence, connection, and a life they truly love
Colleen is also the co-author of 333: The Power of Equilibrium, a collaborative book exploring balance across body, mind, and spirit.
- Belonging
- CONFIDENCE
- CONNECTION
- COMMUNITY
- JOY
- FRIENDSHIP
- GROWTH
Confidence. Connection. Joy.
The Different Ways We
Can Connect
Whether we meet on a pickleball court, through a book, at a retreat, on stage, or through wellness coaching, my goal is always the same: to help you find confidence, connection, and a place where you belong.
More than learning the game—find confidence, friendship, and a community that cheers you on.
“Everything I do is rooted in one simple belief: when people feel seen, supported, and connected, they become brave enough to say yes to what’s next.”
“Everything I do is rooted in one simple belief: when people feel seen, supported, and connected, they become brave enough to say yes to what’s next.”
I’d Love to Hear From You.
Whether you have a question, want to explore working together, or just want to tell me your story, don’t be shy — every great connection starts with a conversation.
call me
850-598-7263
Colleen@ColleenRiddle.com
Send Me a Note
call me
850-598-7263
Colleen@ColleenRiddle.com