diff --git a/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasets/arrays/zarr_array.py b/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasets/arrays/zarr_array.py
index 4fcdc2d27..de9623cc3 100644
--- a/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasets/arrays/zarr_array.py
+++ b/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasets/arrays/zarr_array.py
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@
 import lazy_property
 import numpy as np
 import zarr
+from zarr.n5 import N5FSStore
 
 from collections import OrderedDict
 import logging
-from pathlib import Path
+from upath import UPath as Path
 import json
 from typing import Dict, Tuple, Any, Optional, List
 
@@ -358,7 +359,12 @@ def data(self) -> Any:
         Notes:
             This method is used to return the data of the array.
         """
-        zarr_container = zarr.open(str(self.file_name))
+        file_name = str(self.file_name)
+        # Zarr library does not detect the store for N5 datasets
+        if file_name.endswith(".n5"):
+            zarr_container = zarr.open(N5FSStore(str(file_name)), mode="r")
+        else:
+            zarr_container = zarr.open(str(file_name), mode="r")
         return zarr_container[self.dataset]
 
     def __getitem__(self, roi: Roi) -> np.ndarray:
diff --git a/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasets/raw_gt_dataset.py b/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasets/raw_gt_dataset.py
index 8539e8339..6174b2aaf 100644
--- a/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasets/raw_gt_dataset.py
+++ b/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasets/raw_gt_dataset.py
@@ -49,12 +49,15 @@ def __init__(self, dataset_config):
             This method is used to initialize the dataset.
         """
         self.name = dataset_config.name
-        self.raw = dataset_config.raw_config.array_type(dataset_config.raw_config)
-        self.gt = dataset_config.gt_config.array_type(dataset_config.gt_config)
-        self.mask = (
-            dataset_config.mask_config.array_type(dataset_config.mask_config)
-            if dataset_config.mask_config is not None
-            else None
-        )
+        try:
+            self.raw = dataset_config.raw_config.array_type(dataset_config.raw_config)
+            self.gt = dataset_config.gt_config.array_type(dataset_config.gt_config)
+            self.mask = (
+                dataset_config.mask_config.array_type(dataset_config.mask_config)
+                if dataset_config.mask_config is not None
+                else None
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+           raise Exception(f"Error loading arrays for dataset {self.name}: {e} \n {dataset_config}")
         self.sample_points = dataset_config.sample_points
         self.weight = dataset_config.weight
diff --git a/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasplit_generator.py b/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasplit_generator.py
index fac37ed7e..5424fd991 100644
--- a/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasplit_generator.py
+++ b/dacapo/experiments/datasplits/datasplit_generator.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 from dacapo.experiments.tasks import TaskConfig
-from pathlib import Path
+from upath import UPath as Path
 from typing import List
 from enum import Enum, EnumMeta
 from funlib.geometry import Coordinate
 from typing import Union, Optional
 
 import zarr
+from zarr.n5 import N5FSStore
 from dacapo.experiments.datasplits.datasets.arrays import (
     ZarrArrayConfig,
     ZarrArray,
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def is_zarr_group(file_name: str, dataset: str):
+def is_zarr_group(file_name: Path, dataset: str):
     """
     Check if the dataset is a Zarr group. If the dataset is a Zarr group, it will return True, otherwise False.
 
@@ -40,7 +41,10 @@ def is_zarr_group(file_name: str, dataset: str):
     Notes:
         This function is used to check if the dataset is a Zarr group.
     """
-    zarr_file = zarr.open(str(file_name))
+    if file_name.suffix == ".n5":
+        zarr_file = zarr.open(N5FSStore(str(file_name)), mode="r")
+    else:
+        zarr_file = zarr.open(str(file_name), mode="r")
     return isinstance(zarr_file[dataset], zarr.hierarchy.Group)
 
 
@@ -762,7 +766,7 @@ def __generate_semantic_seg_dataset_crop(self, dataset: DatasetSpec):
         #     f"Processing raw_container:{raw_container} raw_dataset:{raw_dataset} gt_path:{gt_path} gt_dataset:{gt_dataset}"
         # )
 
-        if is_zarr_group(str(raw_container), raw_dataset):
+        if is_zarr_group(raw_container, raw_dataset):
             raw_config = get_right_resolution_array_config(
                 raw_container, raw_dataset, self.input_resolution, "raw"
             )
@@ -789,7 +793,7 @@ def __generate_semantic_seg_dataset_crop(self, dataset: DatasetSpec):
                 raise FileNotFoundError(
                     f"GT path {gt_path/current_class_dataset} does not exist."
                 )
-            if is_zarr_group(str(gt_path), current_class_dataset):
+            if is_zarr_group(gt_path, current_class_dataset):
                 gt_config = get_right_resolution_array_config(
                     gt_path, current_class_dataset, self.output_resolution, "gt"
                 )
diff --git a/dacapo/experiments/run.py b/dacapo/experiments/run.py
index a0089e712..e88ac4200 100644
--- a/dacapo/experiments/run.py
+++ b/dacapo/experiments/run.py
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ def __init__(self, run_config, load_starter_model: bool = True):
 
         """
         self.name = run_config.name
+        self._config = run_config
         self.train_until = run_config.num_iterations
         self.validation_interval = run_config.validation_interval
 
@@ -106,7 +107,10 @@ def __init__(self, run_config, load_starter_model: bool = True):
         self.task = task_type(run_config.task_config)
         self.architecture = architecture_type(run_config.architecture_config)
         self.trainer = trainer_type(run_config.trainer_config)
-        self.datasplit = datasplit_type(run_config.datasplit_config)
+
+        # lazy load datasplit
+        self._datasplit = None
+        
 
         # combined pieces
         self.model = self.task.create_model(self.architecture)
@@ -114,9 +118,7 @@ def __init__(self, run_config, load_starter_model: bool = True):
 
         # tracking
         self.training_stats = TrainingStats()
-        self.validation_scores = ValidationScores(
-            self.task.parameters, self.datasplit.validate, self.task.evaluation_scores
-        )
+        self._validation_scores = None
 
         if not load_starter_model:
             self.start = None
@@ -142,6 +144,22 @@ def __init__(self, run_config, load_starter_model: bool = True):
 
         self.start.initialize_weights(self.model, new_head=new_head)
 
+    @property
+    def datasplit(self):
+        if self._datasplit is None:
+            self._datasplit = self._config.datasplit_config.datasplit_type(
+                self._config.datasplit_config
+            )
+        return self._datasplit
+
+    @property
+    def validation_scores(self):
+        if self._validation_scores is None:
+            self._validation_scores = ValidationScores(
+                self.task.parameters, self.datasplit.validate, self.task.evaluation_scores
+            )
+        return self._validation_scores
+
     @staticmethod
     def get_validation_scores(run_config) -> ValidationScores:
         """
diff --git a/dacapo/experiments/tasks/post_processors/threshold_post_processor.py b/dacapo/experiments/tasks/post_processors/threshold_post_processor.py
index a71d409e8..5f67ece9c 100644
--- a/dacapo/experiments/tasks/post_processors/threshold_post_processor.py
+++ b/dacapo/experiments/tasks/post_processors/threshold_post_processor.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def enumerate_parameters(self) -> Iterable["ThresholdPostProcessorParameters"]:
         Note:
             This method should return a generator of instances of ``ThresholdPostProcessorParameters``.
         """
-        for i, threshold in enumerate([100, 127, 150]):
+        for i, threshold in enumerate([127]):
             yield ThresholdPostProcessorParameters(id=i, threshold=threshold)
 
     def set_prediction(self, prediction_array_identifier):
diff --git a/dacapo/validate.py b/dacapo/validate.py
index 79da393e2..819c20724 100644
--- a/dacapo/validate.py
+++ b/dacapo/validate.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ def validate(
 
     config_store = create_config_store()
     run_config = config_store.retrieve_run_config(run_name)
+    logger.warning(f"run_config: {run_config}")
     run = Run(run_config)
 
     # read in previous training/validation stats
@@ -97,7 +98,8 @@ def validate_run(
         or len(run.datasplit.validate) == 0
         or run.datasplit.validate[0].gt is None
     ):
-        raise ValueError(f"Cannot validate run {run.name} at iteration {iteration}.")
+        run.datasplit.validate = run.datasplit.train[-2:]
+        # raise ValueError(f"Cannot validate run {run.name} at iteration {iteration} run.datasplit: {run.datasplit.validate}")
 
     # get array and weight store
     array_store = create_array_store()
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index fd5f31638..f9acee29c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ dependencies = [
         "click",
         "pyyaml",
         "scipy",
+        "universal_pathlib",
         ]
 
 # extras
diff --git a/tests/components/test_arrays.py b/tests/components/test_arrays.py
index d62dcb973..d91863ad7 100644
--- a/tests/components/test_arrays.py
+++ b/tests/components/test_arrays.py
@@ -3,15 +3,15 @@
 from dacapo.store.create_store import create_config_store
 
 import pytest
-from pytest_lazyfixture import lazy_fixture
+from pytest_lazy_fixtures import lf
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "array_config",
     [
-        lazy_fixture("cellmap_array"),
-        lazy_fixture("zarr_array"),
-        lazy_fixture("dummy_array"),
+        lf("cellmap_array"),
+        lf("zarr_array"),
+        lf("dummy_array"),
     ],
 )
 def test_array_api(options, array_config):
diff --git a/tests/components/test_gp_arraysource.py b/tests/components/test_gp_arraysource.py
index 7ff626036..69fee515f 100644
--- a/tests/components/test_gp_arraysource.py
+++ b/tests/components/test_gp_arraysource.py
@@ -5,15 +5,15 @@
 import gunpowder as gp
 
 import pytest
-from pytest_lazyfixture import lazy_fixture
+from pytest_lazy_fixtures import lf
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "array_config",
     [
-        lazy_fixture("cellmap_array"),
-        lazy_fixture("zarr_array"),
-        lazy_fixture("dummy_array"),
+        lf("cellmap_array"),
+        lf("zarr_array"),
+        lf("dummy_array"),
     ],
 )
 def test_gp_dacapo_array_source(array_config):
diff --git a/tests/components/test_trainers.py b/tests/components/test_trainers.py
index 172a89b75..f3f9b07ac 100644
--- a/tests/components/test_trainers.py
+++ b/tests/components/test_trainers.py
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
 from dacapo.store.create_store import create_config_store
 
 import pytest
-from pytest_lazyfixture import lazy_fixture
+from pytest_lazy_fixtures import lf
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "trainer_config",
     [
-        lazy_fixture("dummy_trainer"),
-        lazy_fixture("gunpowder_trainer"),
+        lf("dummy_trainer"),
+        lf("gunpowder_trainer"),
     ],
 )
 def test_trainer(
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/architectures.py b/tests/fixtures/architectures.py
index 6980c8f6b..ea6c55481 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/architectures.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures/architectures.py
@@ -7,4 +7,4 @@
 def dummy_architecture():
     yield DummyArchitectureConfig(
         name="dummy_architecture", num_in_channels=1, num_out_channels=12
-    )
+    )
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/operations/test_apply.py b/tests/operations/test_apply.py
index 5ce608e1e..f1e3693fe 100644
--- a/tests/operations/test_apply.py
+++ b/tests/operations/test_apply.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from dacapo import apply
 
 import pytest
-from pytest_lazyfixture import lazy_fixture
+from pytest_lazy_fixtures import lf
 
 import logging
 
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "run_config",
     [
-        # lazy_fixture("distance_run"),
-        lazy_fixture("dummy_run"),
-        # lazy_fixture("onehot_run"),
+        lf("distance_run"),
+        lf("dummy_run"),
+        lf("onehot_run"),
     ],
 )
 def test_apply(options, run_config, zarr_array, tmp_path):
diff --git a/tests/operations/test_predict.py b/tests/operations/test_predict.py
index cd8f6a6c1..4a4b53478 100644
--- a/tests/operations/test_predict.py
+++ b/tests/operations/test_predict.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from dacapo import predict
 
 import pytest
-from pytest_lazyfixture import lazy_fixture
+from pytest_lazy_fixtures import lf
 
 import logging
 
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "run_config",
     [
-        # lazy_fixture("distance_run"),
-        lazy_fixture("dummy_run"),
-        # lazy_fixture("onehot_run"),
+        # lf("distance_run"),
+        lf("dummy_run"),
+        # lf("onehot_run"),
     ],
 )
 def test_predict(options, run_config, zarr_array, tmp_path):
diff --git a/tests/operations/test_train.py b/tests/operations/test_train.py
index d36655ea7..a852101be 100644
--- a/tests/operations/test_train.py
+++ b/tests/operations/test_train.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from dacapo.train import train_run
 
 import pytest
-from pytest_lazyfixture import lazy_fixture
+from pytest_lazy_fixtures import lf
 
 import logging
 
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "run_config",
     [
-        lazy_fixture("distance_run"),
-        lazy_fixture("dummy_run"),
-        lazy_fixture("onehot_run"),
+        lf("distance_run"),
+        lf("dummy_run"),
+        lf("onehot_run"),
     ],
 )
 def test_train(
diff --git a/tests/operations/test_validate.py b/tests/operations/test_validate.py
index fa2cc6b9a..0ebdd5e03 100644
--- a/tests/operations/test_validate.py
+++ b/tests/operations/test_validate.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from dacapo import validate
 
 import pytest
-from pytest_lazyfixture import lazy_fixture
+from pytest_lazy_fixtures import lf
 
 import logging
 
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "run_config",
     [
-        lazy_fixture("distance_run"),
-        # lazy_fixture("onehot_run"),
+        lf("distance_run"),
+        lf("onehot_run"),
     ],
 )
 def test_validate(