When Sadie Lowell graduated college in Spring 2021 during the height of Covid, she began contemplating a future that looked very different from what she’d initially imagined. Like many during that time, she realized remote work opened up new possibilities – including a move to Portugal. Now based in Lisbon, she’s built a life that combines her passion for running with exploring Europe, documenting her adventures through her project Jet-Setting Runner.
I sat down with Sadie to discuss her move to Portugal, running culture in Lisbon, and her tips for new expats.
James: Tell me a little bit about yourself and how you ended up moving to Lisbon.
Sadie: I graduated college in Spring 2021, and that last year was completely disrupted by Covid. I started thinking, “Wait a second – I don’t necessarily need to be in an office environment. I could work remotely, I could move abroad.” I came across the D7 visa, and I think I was one of the last people who got in before they started the D8. I started pulling together some freelance jobs and marketing work, then spent about a year staying with my parents while I saved and focused. I ended up moving in May 2022.
James: Was Portugal mainly for the visa, or had you considered it before?
Sadie: I had been able to do one study abroad in Ireland the fall before Covid, and I got to Portugal for a weekend. I knew I liked it – it was one of those places where you have that thought on vacation like “I could live here.” I didn’t think about Portugal again until I found the visa. I figured I was young enough and had no other real connections tying me down. If it turned out I didn’t like Portugal, I could leave. You know, I had that security that I didn’t have to commit as if I was moving with several children or other responsibilities.
James: How was the visa process for you?
Sadie: It wasn’t as hard as what I’ve heard about from some people who have to deal with the San Francisco and DC offices. I was lucky to be based out of New Hampshire, so I was using the Boston Consulate. They did two appointments a week for the D7 visa. I used the Americans & Friends in Portugal Facebook group’s guide for everything I needed to bring.
The only issue came about a month later when I had connected with others who had appointments the week before me, the week after me, and the same day as me. They were all getting their visas, and I wasn’t getting mine. After calling and emailing with no response, I finally went down to Boston in person. Turns out they had my visa – they just hadn’t called to tell me! A week later I picked it up, and three days after that I flew to Portugal.
James: Tell me about Jet-Setting Runner. How did that come about?
Sadie: There was a part of me moving to Portugal thinking “moving to warm weather is going to solve all my issues.” Then I realized I still needed to include exercise and running, but I had never been consistent with it before. I would always sign up for a race, train for it, do the race, be upset at my results, and stop running.
So I decided to do a year of half marathons – one every single month for the entirety of 2023, each in a new country. I started documenting it on Instagram, sharing what the running culture was like in each place. It kept growing, and at the end of the year, I decided I wanted to keep running in new countries and start helping people travel abroad for races. This year I’ve done three half marathons and two marathons, all in different countries.
James: How have you found running in Lisbon?
Sadie: For me, it’s been about mapping out the flat zones of the city. Like Alcântara and that whole river area is very flat. The area from Saldanha up to Campo Grande is pretty flat as well. But it’s also about embracing that you’re going to be on these sometimes narrow streets. I obviously avoid Chiado and anything downtown.
What’s really made it amazing is finding people to run with. I started running with the Lisbon Running Community (LXRC), and that’s been a great part of how I’ve made friends in Portugal. They do 3-4 runs a week – some on the water, some on the track, and they also run in Monsanto.
Monsanto can be overwhelming to run alone. Whenever I try to go there by myself, I get lost – the trails don’t make sense, and I don’t know where I’m going. But it’s really nice to go with the running community because you have someone who knows the path. You’re getting some trail running and you’re out of the city in nature, but it’s not overwhelming.
James: If someone was moving to Lisbon as a runner, are there neighborhoods you’d recommend?
Sadie: The neighborhoods I mentioned already – the Saldanha/Campo Grande area is great, or down by the water – Alcântara, Estrela, Santos. Otherwise, you’re really just going to have to embrace the hills. Though I call it the “Lisbon speed boost” – when I go run anywhere else, I’m always a good 15 seconds faster per mile because I’m not dealing with all the hills!
James: How do you deal with the heat in summer?
Sadie: I try to run earlier in the day in summer – try being the main word! I still end up just doing what I call “heat training.” There’s really no good answer there, but if you can get out earlier in the day, that’s better. Or in the evening – a lot of the running clubs meet at 7:00 or 7:30 in summer so you can get out right as the sun sets.
The good thing about Lisbon is that with the breeze from the ocean, the second the sun sets, it usually drops significantly. I’ve never had air conditioning anywhere I’ve lived here, and this summer I barely even used my fans.
James: What are some of the biggest cultural differences you’ve noticed between the US and Portugal?
Sadie: As a runner, the running culture is very different here. I would say the running culture in the US is a lot stronger – there are more people running, and the races have a lot more people cheering. But that’s kind of just across Europe – I find that Southern Europe tends to have less running culture, Northern Europe has more.
Beyond that, consumerism is different. In Portugal, you learn what you need – it’s not always easy to track things down. Even when you go shopping and know what you want, they probably won’t have your size or the color you want. I tend to find that when I’m in the US, it’s much easier just to buy something, whereas in Portugal, I’m really thinking about it. I actually prefer this idea that what I’m buying is what I need, though sometimes when I just need one specific thing, it can be frustrating.
When it comes to people though, I don’t think there’s that much of a difference. They’re both just countries full of people doing their best.
James: Have you found anything particularly difficult about the move?
Sadie: I would just say the bureaucracy. You talk to three lawyers, you’ll get three different answers, and it’s like – it’s the law, how are we getting different answers? Similarly, you talk to three tax accountants, you get three different answers.
My number one tip for anyone moving here is don’t just take the first person you talk to at face value. Check with a few people, spend the time to make sure what they’re all saying matches up. Sometimes in the US, people are less likely to talk about taxes or bureaucratic things, but in Portugal, a normal conversation with my friends will veer off into taxes and we’ll be like “What did your guy tell you? Okay, my guy said don’t do this.”
James: How have you found maintaining your career while being abroad?
Sadie: I don’t think it’s been too hard, though it’s not easy. There have obviously been times where I’ve been getting along great with a potential client, and then they’re like “Oh, you’re in Portugal,” and even though I’ve been working with people in their time zone for basically my entire career, some people just have this idea that you can’t do the job.
Life would probably be easier if I was still living in the US, for a lot of things. But I wouldn’t be happier living there, and I am happier living here. Sometimes things are more complicated with your job, with finding an apartment, with getting something fixed, with finding a specific product. But if you’re happier abroad, then it’s worth it.
Have a question about moving to Portugal?