diff --git a/.github/workflows/astra.yml b/.github/workflows/astra.yml
index 42c838b..97fa7be 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/astra.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/astra.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ concurrency:
 jobs:
   plan:
     if: vars.TIME_ASTRA == 'on'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: cron
     timeout-minutes: 10
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
diff --git a/.github/workflows/heartbeat.yml b/.github/workflows/heartbeat.yml
index 1b7f22b..46ee364 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/heartbeat.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/heartbeat.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
       (github.event_name != 'issue_comment' || (github.event.issue.pull_request && github.event.comment.user.login != 'gitea-actions' &&
         (startsWith(github.event.comment.body, '**Approve') || startsWith(github.event.comment.body, 'Approve') ||
          startsWith(github.event.comment.body, '**Object') || startsWith(github.event.comment.body, 'Object'))))
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: cron
     timeout-minutes: 55   # workers can overlap inside one job now (#75); under the hourly cadence, and the concurrency group queues the next run
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
diff --git a/.github/workflows/housekeeping.yml b/.github/workflows/housekeeping.yml
index 0598ad2..f6efabc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/housekeeping.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/housekeeping.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ concurrency:
   cancel-in-progress: false
 jobs:
   sweep:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: cron
     timeout-minutes: 10
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync.yml b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
index 9aa25f2..660ca3b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ concurrency:
   cancel-in-progress: false
 jobs:
   sync:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: cron
     timeout-minutes: 10
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update.yml b/.github/workflows/update.yml
index d7bda8a..8790e88 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/update.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/update.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ permissions:
 jobs:
   update:
     if: github.repository != (vars.TIME_UPSTREAM || 'teahubxyz/time')
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: cron
     timeout-minutes: 3
     env:
       UPSTREAM: ${{ vars.TIME_UPSTREAM || 'teahubxyz/time' }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/venture.yml b/.github/workflows/venture.yml
index 54af503..60f4672 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/venture.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/venture.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ concurrency:
   cancel-in-progress: false
 jobs:
   tick:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: cron
     timeout-minutes: 40
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5