diff --git a/crates/arc-api/src/demo/mod.rs b/crates/arc-api/src/demo/mod.rs
index 7661b58ce..0776eefbe 100644
--- a/crates/arc-api/src/demo/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/arc-api/src/demo/mod.rs
@@ -686,13 +686,15 @@ pub async fn get_aggregate_usage(
 
 // ── Data modules ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-mod runs {
-    use arc_types::*;
-    use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
+use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
 
-    fn ts(s: &str) -> DateTime<Utc> {
-        s.parse().unwrap()
-    }
+fn ts(s: &str) -> DateTime<Utc> {
+    s.parse().unwrap()
+}
+
+mod runs {
+    use super::ts;
+    use arc_types::*;
 
     pub fn list_items() -> Vec<RunListItem> {
         vec![
@@ -2310,12 +2312,8 @@ mod verifications {
 }
 
 mod retros {
+    use super::ts;
     use arc_types::*;
-    use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
-
-    fn ts(s: &str) -> DateTime<Utc> {
-        s.parse().unwrap()
-    }
 
     pub fn list_items() -> Vec<RetroListItem> {
         vec![
@@ -2431,14 +2429,10 @@ mod retros {
 }
 
 mod sessions {
+    use super::ts;
     use arc_types::*;
-    use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
     use uuid::Uuid;
 
-    fn ts(s: &str) -> DateTime<Utc> {
-        s.parse().unwrap()
-    }
-
     fn uid(n: u128) -> Uuid {
         Uuid::from_u128(n)
     }
@@ -2577,12 +2571,8 @@ mod sessions {
 }
 
 mod insights {
+    use super::ts;
     use arc_types::*;
-    use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
-
-    fn ts(s: &str) -> DateTime<Utc> {
-        s.parse().unwrap()
-    }
 
     pub fn saved_queries() -> Vec<SavedQuery> {
         vec![
diff --git a/crates/arc-api/src/server.rs b/crates/arc-api/src/server.rs
index bfd4aa066..22480e011 100644
--- a/crates/arc-api/src/server.rs
+++ b/crates/arc-api/src/server.rs
@@ -424,6 +424,8 @@ async fn start_run(
     let run_id = ulid::Ulid::new().to_string();
     info!(run_id = %run_id, "Run queued");
 
+    let created_at = chrono::Utc::now();
+
     {
         let mut runs = state.runs.lock().expect("runs lock poisoned");
         runs.insert(
@@ -433,7 +435,7 @@ async fn start_run(
                 graph,
                 status: RunStatus::Queued,
                 error: None,
-                created_at: chrono::Utc::now(),
+                created_at,
                 interviewer: None,
                 event_tx: None,
                 context: None,
@@ -452,7 +454,7 @@ async fn start_run(
         Json(StartRunResponse {
             id: run_id,
             status: RunStatus::Queued,
-            created_at: chrono::Utc::now(),
+            created_at,
         }),
     )
         .into_response()