diff --git a/dacapo/blockwise/predict_worker.py b/dacapo/blockwise/predict_worker.py
index c8b666734..87584c0e5 100644
--- a/dacapo/blockwise/predict_worker.py
+++ b/dacapo/blockwise/predict_worker.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def cli(log_level):
 )
 @click.option("-od", "--output_dataset", required=True, type=str)
 def start_worker(
-    run_name: str,
+    run_name: str| Run,
     iteration: int | None,
     input_container: Path | str,
     input_dataset: str,
@@ -78,6 +78,28 @@ def start_worker(
     output_dataset: str,
     return_io_loop: Optional[bool] = False,
 ):
+    return start_worker_fn(
+        run_name=run_name,
+        iteration=iteration,
+        input_container=input_container,
+        input_dataset=input_dataset,
+        output_container=output_container,
+        output_dataset=output_dataset,
+        return_io_loop=return_io_loop,
+    )
+        
+
+
+def start_worker_fn(
+    run_name: str| Run,
+    iteration: int | None,
+    input_container: Path | str,
+    input_dataset: str,
+    output_container: Path | str,
+    output_dataset: str,
+    return_io_loop: bool,
+):
+
     """
     Start a worker to apply a trained model to a dataset.
 
@@ -93,9 +115,14 @@ def start_worker(
     device = compute_context.device
 
     # retrieving run
-    config_store = create_config_store()
-    run_config = config_store.retrieve_run_config(run_name)
-    run = Run(run_config)
+    logger.error(f"run_name: {run_name} {type(run_name)}" )
+    if isinstance(run_name, Run):
+        run = run_name
+        run_name = run.name
+    else:
+        config_store = create_config_store()
+        run_config = config_store.retrieve_run_config(run_name)
+        run = Run(run_config)
 
     if iteration is not None:
         # create weights store
@@ -207,7 +234,7 @@ def io_loop():
 
 
 def spawn_worker(
-    run_name: str,
+    run_name: str| Run,
     iteration: int | None,
     input_array_identifier: "LocalArrayIdentifier",
     output_array_identifier: "LocalArrayIdentifier",
@@ -225,13 +252,13 @@ def spawn_worker(
     """
     compute_context = create_compute_context()
     if not compute_context.distribute_workers:
-        return start_worker(
-            run_name,
-            iteration,
-            input_array_identifier.container,
-            input_array_identifier.dataset,
-            output_array_identifier.container,
-            output_array_identifier.dataset,
+        return start_worker_fn(
+            run_name= run_name,
+            iteration=iteration,
+            input_container= input_array_identifier.container,
+            input_dataset= input_array_identifier.dataset,
+            output_container=output_array_identifier.container,
+            output_dataset=output_array_identifier.dataset,
             return_io_loop=True,
         )
 
diff --git a/dacapo/predict.py b/dacapo/predict.py
index 0c09a9f7a..8197b2e63 100644
--- a/dacapo/predict.py
+++ b/dacapo/predict.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def predict(
     input_size = input_voxel_size * input_shape
     output_size = output_voxel_size * model.compute_output_shape(input_shape)[1]
     num_out_channels = model.num_out_channels
-    del model
+    # del model
 
     # calculate input and output rois
 
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def predict(
         max_retries=2,  # TODO: make this an option
         timeout=None,  # TODO: make this an option
         ######
-        run_name=run_name,
+        run_name=run,
         iteration=iteration,
         input_array_identifier=input_array_identifier,
         output_array_identifier=output_array_identifier,