Beavers ‘MOTIVATED’ to Scale Mount Sherman
Virtual Gym Hosts Retreat as Women Hike to 14,000 Feet
Three Buena Vista University alumni scaled Mount Sherman near Fairplay, Colo., in early August, the centerpiece of a retreat hosted by Jenny (Misselhorn) Wiebers ’05, Founder of MOTIVATED, a virtual gym that offers an array of fitness and nutritional programming.
Mt. Sherman is categorized as a “14er,” which means the summit rises to above 14,036 feet in elevation, resulting in hikes up and down the mountain that can take six to eight hours with a range in temperature of 30 to 40 degrees.
Kelli (Staley) Cameron ’06 and Jaime (Breyfogle) Jones ’06 represented BVU alumni among the 17 MOTIVATED clients who joined business partners Wiebers and Paula Baughman.
“It was 40 degrees when we started, but the day turned out to be perfect. The sun was shining and there was plenty of time for conversation with other MOTIVATED members we had just met. The whole experience was overwhelmingly rewarding.”
Kelli (Staley) Cameron, 2006 BVU graduate
“We all had neon hats, and the group stood out,” Wiebers says. “The instant camaraderie we experienced both within our contingent and on the mountainside as we cheered on other climbers and vice-versa was powerful. You could feel the energy on the mountain.”
Wiebers, an exercise science major at BVU, began her career by serving the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake as her husband, Eric Wiebers ’05, coached men’s basketball for the Beavers. She went on to establish Wiebers Fitness in downtown Storm Lake before leaving the community when Eric’s career took the family to Harlan.
When Eric’s career again had the family on the move, this time to Atlanta, Ga., Jenny decided to enter the virtual space for her gym. She founded MOTIVATED and began offering and recording her programs in a space that would grow, perhaps rapidly three years later amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The family relocated to the Denver, Colo., area five years ago.
“Unlike many virtual fitness programs, as the leaders of MOTIVATED, we are involved in the community aspect with our clients,” Wiebers says. “We coach, but we also do inspirational and motivational posts. We try to inspire, build relationships, and present opportunities for engagement.”
Along with those events, there have been MOTIVATED social gatherings and pop-up events in cities such as Des Moines, Manning, Denison, Storm Lake, Harlan, and Carroll. Three years ago, a retreat was held in Okoboji. This summer, 19 gathered in Colorado and scaled Mount Sherman as part of a three-day get-together.
“Three people had done a ‘14er’ and for the rest of us, it was our first,” Cameron says. “It was 40 degrees when we started, but the day turned out to be perfect. The sun was shining and there was plenty of time for conversation with other MOTIVATED members we had just met. The whole experience was overwhelmingly rewarding.”
Wiebers says the climb has been requested to become part of this group’s annual retreat.
“It does take you beyond just the physical aspects,” Wiebers says. “There is a mental component and that constant push to get to the top. There’s an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction you get when you reach the summit. I was so proud of our group and can’t wait to do it again!”