If thoughts are things?

 I hope you are all well in this challenging time?  It's a time like no other and we are all dealing with it in our own way.  I feel very fortunate to be able to train as the exercise helps keep me healthy both physically and, probably more importantly in the current world of lock down, mentally.  Most of my runs are solo runs and it gives me time to think without any interference or noise, other than my heavy breathing!   
One of the things that happens on my runs, which never ceases to amaze me, is when approaching a long hill (I'm surrounded by them where I live!)  I discovered that depending on what I'm thinking about at the bottom of the hill will greatly impact on how quickly and how much effort I spend getting up the hill.  If I am thinking about something positive I fly effortlessly up the hill.  It not a conscious thought, it normally only hits me when I am over the top and sometimes if I'm in deep concentration it could be hundreds of metres past the hill.  All of a sudden I'm asking myself, where was that hill?  The counter is also true.  If my thoughts are negative as I approach the hill then I feel every step and claw my way to the top.
It's just an example of how our thinking effects our performance.  So I pose the question:  If thoughts are things?  What I mean by that is we need to be careful what messages we send to our brain as if they are negative then the brain will accept that and your performance will deteriorate.
I thought it worth bringing this up as it would be easy to be down with all the news about restrictions, lock downs and not being able to socialise with our friends.  After all we're human and social interaction is important.
Fortunately I have my family to support me and my team mates to cajole me, especially when we're out training together.  This week our club had a competition which involved 4 bike rides and 3 runs with points being awarded.  I can't remember the last time I cycled 4 times in a week and 1 session was a 10 mile Time Trial - haven't done one of those in over 7 years.  But that element of competition and having team mates all taking part was all the motivation I needed.  I pushed very hard in the TT and was pleased I'd had the opportunity to set a time that no doubt I'll be measured against in the coming weeks (my jumpers!).  It's been a focused week of training and a positive distraction from the negativity out there.  
So be careful what messages you send to your brain and the next time you are approaching a big hill, think happy thoughts and glide all the way to the top.  Stay safe, healthy and we will get there eventually.