diff --git a/colored_pentagon_reduction/example.py b/colored_pentagon_reduction/example.py
index 4bf20e5..c494637 100644
--- a/colored_pentagon_reduction/example.py
+++ b/colored_pentagon_reduction/example.py
@@ -276,7 +276,6 @@ starting_coloring = {v: i for i, cls in enumerate(starting_coloring_classes) for
 _, _, initial_cid = save_colored_graph(G, starting_coloring)
 G.is_planar(set_embedding=True, set_pos=True)
 
-steps = reduce(G, starting_coloring, initial_cid)
 def strip_graphs(obj: Any) -> Any:
     if isinstance(obj, dict):
         return {k: strip_graphs(v) for k, v in obj.items() if not isinstance(v, Graph)}
@@ -284,14 +283,6 @@ def strip_graphs(obj: Any) -> Any:
         return [strip_graphs(v) for v in obj]
     return obj
 
-print("\nSteps:")
-print(json.dumps(strip_graphs(steps), indent=2))
-
-op_seq_id = operation_sequence_id(steps)
-op_dir = DIR / "data" / "operations" / op_seq_id
-op_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-(op_dir / "colored_pentagon_contractions.json").write_text(json.dumps(strip_graphs(steps), indent=2))
-
 def plot_to_data_uri(g: Graph, coloring: VertexColoring) -> str:
     import tempfile
     vertex_colors: defaultdict[str, list[Any]] = defaultdict(list)
@@ -305,8 +296,20 @@ def plot_to_data_uri(g: Graph, coloring: VertexColoring) -> str:
         png_bytes = Path(f.name).read_bytes()
     return f"data:image/png;base64,{base64.b64encode(png_bytes).decode()}"
 
-md_lines = [f"## start\n\n![start]({plot_to_data_uri(G, starting_coloring)})"]
-for step in steps:
-    meta_json = json.dumps(step['meta'])
-    md_lines.append(f"## {step['name']} {meta_json}\n\n![b]({plot_to_data_uri(step['g_prime'], step['coloring_prime'])})")
-(op_dir / "colored_pentagon_contractions.md").write_text("\n".join(md_lines) + "\n")
+def save_operation_sequence(steps: list[Step], g: Graph, coloring: VertexColoring) -> str:
+    """Save steps as JSON and Markdown under data/operations/<seq_id>. Returns the sequence id."""
+    op_seq_id = operation_sequence_id(steps)
+    op_dir = DIR / "data" / "operations" / op_seq_id
+    op_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    (op_dir / "colored_pentagon_contractions.json").write_text(json.dumps(strip_graphs(steps), indent=2))
+    md_lines = [f"## start\n\n![start]({plot_to_data_uri(g, coloring)})"]
+    for step in steps:
+        meta_json = json.dumps(step['meta'])
+        md_lines.append(f"## {step['name']} {meta_json}\n\n![b]({plot_to_data_uri(step['g_prime'], step['coloring_prime'])})")
+    (op_dir / "colored_pentagon_contractions.md").write_text("\n".join(md_lines) + "\n")
+    return op_seq_id
+
+steps = reduce(G, starting_coloring, initial_cid)
+print("\nSteps:")
+print(json.dumps(strip_graphs(steps), indent=2))
+save_operation_sequence(steps, G, starting_coloring)