diff --git a/ai_ta_backend/flows.py b/ai_ta_backend/flows.py
index 70380ccc..82ad05ba 100644
--- a/ai_ta_backend/flows.py
+++ b/ai_ta_backend/flows.py
@@ -126,26 +126,30 @@ def get_hook(self, name: str, api_key: str = ""):
       raise Exception('No nodes found in the workflow')
 
   def format_data(self, inputted, api_key: str, workflow_name):
-    work_flow = self.get_workflows(100, api_key=api_key, workflow_name=workflow_name)
-    print("Got workflow")
-    values = []
-    if isinstance(work_flow, dict) and 'nodes' in work_flow:
-      for node in work_flow['nodes']:
-        if node['name'] == 'n8n Form Trigger':
-          values = node['parameters']['formFields']['values']
-    data = {}
-    inputted = json.loads(inputted)
-    inputted = dict(inputted)
-    for i, value in enumerate(values):
-      field_name = 'field-' + str(i)
-      data[value['fieldLabel']] = field_name
-    new_data = {}
-    for k, v in inputted.items():
-      if isinstance(v, list):
-        new_data[data[k]] = json.dumps(v)
-      else:
-        new_data[data[k]] = v
-    return new_data
+    try:
+      work_flow = self.get_workflows(100, api_key=api_key, workflow_name=workflow_name)
+      print("Got workflow")
+      values = []
+      if isinstance(work_flow, dict) and 'nodes' in work_flow:
+        for node in work_flow['nodes']:
+          if node['name'] == 'n8n Form Trigger':
+            values = node['parameters']['formFields']['values']
+      data = {}
+      # Check if inputted is already a dict, if not, try to load it as JSON
+      if not isinstance(inputted, dict):
+        inputted = json.loads(inputted)
+      for i, value in enumerate(values):
+        field_name = 'field-' + str(i)
+        data[value['fieldLabel']] = field_name
+      new_data = {}
+      for k, v in inputted.items():
+        if isinstance(v, list):
+          new_data[data[k]] = json.dumps(v)
+        else:
+          new_data[data[k]] = v
+      return new_data
+    except Exception as e:
+      print("Error in format_data: ", e)
 
   # TODO: activate and disactivate workflows
 
diff --git a/ai_ta_backend/main.py b/ai_ta_backend/main.py
index 40cb34ba..1ea0237a 100644
--- a/ai_ta_backend/main.py
+++ b/ai_ta_backend/main.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 from flask_cors import CORS
 from flask_executor import Executor
 from posthog import Posthog
-import ray
+# import ray
 import sentry_sdk
 
 from ai_ta_backend.canvas import CanvasAPI
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 # load API keys from globally-availabe .env file
 load_dotenv()
 
-ray.init()
+# ray.init()
 
 print("NUM ACTIVE THREADS (top of main):", threading.active_count())
 
@@ -764,17 +764,17 @@ def switch_workflow() -> Response:
       abort(400, description=f"Bad request: {e}")
 
 
-@app.route('/run_flow', methods=['GET'])
+@app.route('/run_flow', methods=['POST'])
 def run_flow() -> Response:
   """
   Run flow for a user and return results.
   """
 
-  api_key = request.args.get('api_key', default='', type=str)
-  name = request.args.get('name', default='', type=str)
-  data = request.args.get('data', default='', type=str)
+  api_key = request.json.get('api_key', '')
+  name = request.json.get('name', '')
+  data = request.json.get('data', '')
 
-  print(request.args)
+  print("Got /run_flow request:", request.json)
 
   if api_key == '':
     # proper web error "400 Bad request"