The Habits That Separate Elite Athletes From Everyone Else
Breaking through a training plateau rarely comes down to genetics or the perfect program. Strength coach Brandon Smitley…
THIRST was originally founded by Brandon and Adrian Smitley to help improve the health, fitness, and athletic performance of the greater Wabash Valley community. Together they have acquired scientific and practical knowledge in the fitness industry, and look to apply them to help the community.


As a high level athlete and powerlifter all his life and growing up in the Terre Haute community, he realized the lack of a facility where athletes and community members could go to achieve their desired results. Slowly over the course of five years, Brandon built up a garage gym to facilitate his needs as a competitive powerlifter.
At Terre Haute Intensity Resistance and Sports Training (THIRST) we get a variety of common questions from parents concerned about strength and conditioning for their children. To help better inform you as a parent, we’ve taken some of the common questions we get, and placed them here all in one place to help you.

Breaking through a training plateau rarely comes down to genetics or the perfect program. Strength coach Brandon Smitley…
Linear progression stalled and not sure what to do next? Learn the three signs you’ve hit the advanced…
Online coaching software is where most coaches quietly waste hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars a year.…
Wrestling strength training should change across the year. Learn how to periodize your off-season, pre-season, and in-season lifting…
Most personal trainers are undercharging — and it’s costing them income, energy, and their careers. Learn why fitness…
Does squatting past 90 degrees really wreck your knees? We break down Joel Seedman’s 90-degree rule and chaos…
Does lifting weights make you slow? It’s one of the most damaging myths in sports. Strength training doesn’t…
Velocity based training (VBT) replaces guesswork-heavy percentages with real-time bar speed data, letting the load-velocity relationship tell you…
Most lifters quit their strength program right when it’s about to start working. Learn the five concrete signs…
Most plyometric training doesn’t transfer to sport performance because coaches confuse explosive strength with reactive strength — two…
Strength training for wrestlers built on bodybuilding splits can quietly make you worse on the mat by adding…
Progressive overload is more than adding weight to the bar. This guide breaks down seven common progressive overload…
No reverse hyper at your gym? These five reverse hyper alternatives — from the loaded 45-degree back extension…
Discover the best chest exercises for growth in this biomechanics-based guide to building a bigger chest. THIRST Gym…
The youth sports recruiting industry is a multi-billion-dollar machine built to sell college recruiting hope to families, with…

The service provided by Brandon and Adrian at Thirst has been vital for Adelynn‘s development. They not only provided superior consultation and guidance on athletic performance improvement and resistance training, but they also gave her a safe place to feel belonged. What is so critical in youth athletics is a community that surrounds the athlete…

A high caliber facility with quality of equipment selection you are NEVER going to find anywhere else. However, what I am impressed most by are the owners, Brandon and Adrian Smitley. When it comes to strength sports and athletic development, you won’t find anybody more passionate or dedicated than these two. I often make the…

If you are looking for a great gym I highly recommend. They not only made sure Brenden was lifting the right way but they made it fun and personal for him. Brenden grew as a person and with his confidence tremendously. The two owners Brandon and Adrian Smitley are awesome! They are both so inspiring…

Kaya has gained so much strength and confidence…Best decision and investment we have made for her.

Adrian is always attentive to her client needs, taking great care to ensure an injury free experience. She will adapt your workout according to what you want to accomplish while at the same time pushing you to gain more strength and mobility. She also has a super fun personality! I highly recommend Adrian for you…

Brandon is one of the best young coaches in the country. He has taken his experience as one of the best powerlifters in the world, and applied that dedication to helping others.