"I can promise you. I will never do a full Ironman."

Those were my exact words three years ago when I finished my first half Ironman in Kona. Now, if all goes as planned over the next 48 hours I will eat those words.

Proudly.

Even as race day approaches I find it difficult to believe that I will be doing a full Ironman — the Ironman Canada on Sunday in Penticton, British Columbia. A 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and topped off with a 26.2-mile run, a full marathon.

After all, I'm the same guy who used to grumble when Les Murakami made us run the bases for 20 minutes after a University of Hawai'i baseball practice a quarter century ago.

So why do a full Ironman? To be completely honest I don't have an answer. At least not yet. But I am hopeful I will find one when and if I cross the finish line.

What I do know is that I'm surrounded by an amazing group of people. The 27 men and women that make up our (Raul) Boca training group are the reason I find myself in a place I never intended to be.

They are doctors, lawyers and salespeople, secretaries, teachers, mothers and fathers. And they range in age from 25 to 60. Several are Ironman veterans. The rest of us can only imagine what lies ahead.

But thanks to our fearless leader, Raul "Boca" Torres, we have a pretty good idea.

A 15-time Ironman finisher, Torres is the one who challenges us to challenge ourselves. And in the process he found himself being challenged. After spending the past five years building his business, his training took a back seat. But now the coach is part of the team and primed for Ironman number sweet 16.

"This group forced me to train hard. It was difficult for me just to stay with everyone else. But it was exciting to get up in the morning and witness the synergy," he said. "In past years people have dropped out and disappeared. But not this group. Everyone bonded, nobody left and we never left anyone behind."

We are the people you see biking endless hours around the island. The ones running Kalaniana'ole Highway. From Hawai'i Kai, up and over Hanauma Bay and Makapu'u all the way to Waimanalo and back. And the ones you see entering the warm waters of Kaimana Beach and Ala Moana Beach Park in full wet suits.

Our most grueling training day was three weeks ago. Raul had this great idea. To bike from his shop on Cooke Street, through Pearl City and Waipahu, out past Schofield Barracks and down to Hale'iwa, where we swam from Ehukai Beach Park to Waimea Bay in the final race of the North Shore Summer swim series — a 2.4-mile swim.

After the swim we continued our ride around the island: past Turtle Bay, around La'ie, through Punalu'u, Kahalu'u and Ka'a'awa and eventually to Kailua for a brief stop. After refueling it was back on the saddle, through Waimanalo, up and over Makapu'u, through Hawai'i Kai and ultimately back into town.

We left at 6 a.m. and returned to Boca headquarters at 5 p.m.

A NUMBER OF REASONS

Again, why do we do this? To be sure, every one of us has his or her own reason.

Lilian Kanai is an anesthesiologist who moved from Chicago to Hawai'i 15 years ago.

Eight years ago she decided to do a Tinman Triathlon. But there was just one problem. She didn't know how to swim.

So her road to Ironman started in the Honolulu Club swimming pool, blowing bubbles under water in a beginners swimming class.

On Sunday, she'll finish her second Ironman. But she'll be the first to tell you, the water still occasionally gets to her.

"It took me seven years to get over the anxiety, and although I still have my moments I'm able to work through them now, she said."

At 60, Dr. Chuck Miller is the oldest member of our group. But only in number.

While this is the first full Ironman for the Kaiser Permanente oncologist, he's been running since 1978 and says he's completed somewhere between 40 and 50 marathons.

He's also finished five half Ironman races. But his road to Canada was nearly cut short. Last month as we were riding around the Windward side, Chuck hit a terrible section of road near Ka'a'awa and went down hard. His bike was bruised and his body battered. But his desire didn't suffer a scratch. After several weeks on the mend, Chuck is back. And ready for the challenge.

"I will finish. It's just a matter of when," he said. "I took the time to recover and I walked. I walked 25 miles and it took me more than 6 hours. I thought I was going to die, but I needed to prove to myself that I can finish."

Tanya Florin will most definitely finish. In fact when she crosses the finish line in Canada (no doubt well ahead of most in the group) it will be her ninth Ironman finish. But she's more excited for the rest of us.

"I want to be there when everyone crosses the finish line. The first time is always the best. I've done so many races in different countries with professionals and other people who only focus on getting faster and better. But this group is so different. It's sincere and so pure. Everyone just wants to be there, and simply wants to finish."

Yes, we are the ones who have set the alarm clock for 4:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday for the past five months leaving our surfing, golfing and shopping friends to wonder what happened to us.

Are we crazy? Perhaps. Are we exhausted? Absolutely. But we are also excited and looking forward to conquering a road less traveled.

But despite the endless hours of training, and the countless gels, powerbars and salt tablets we've all consumed it's been an awesome ride. In fact most of us are somewhat sad we've nearly reached the end of our time together. I've always believed the journey is as good or better than the destination. And it's been one amazing journey.

I will miss the energy and support that comes with being a part of such an amazing group of people.

And I know I can speak on behalf of all my Boca teammates when I say we couldn't have made it to this point without the support of the husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends and, of course, the children. Their sacrifices have been every bit as great.

So off to Canada we go. Twenty-seven people with 27 different stories of which I have shared only a handful.

And as we sit here in our hotel rooms, wondering if we're physically and mentally ready for the challenge that lies ahead, we all wonder how our stories will end. But I know one thing for certain. I'll NEVER consider doing another Ironman. I promise!

Howard Dashefsky is an anchor for KHNL News 8, and former first baseman for the University of Hawai'i team that advanced to the final of the College World Series in 1980.

O CANADA, HERE THEY COME

Some of the members of the Boca group in Sunday's Ironman Canada shared their thoughts with KHNL News 8's Howard Dashefsky.

KERRIE ADOLPHO, 33, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT:

"Coaches constantly reiterate that barring any injuries, 90 percent of an endurance race is mental. It applies to life: it's your own mind that will either restrain you or shove you head first into the unimaginable." She's completed two Ironman races.

RAUL "BOCA" TORRES, 41, BOCA HAWAII COACH AND OWNER:

"Great fun. I love the sport and this training group is awesome. (I'm) looking forward to enjoy this Canada Ironman experience." He's completed 11 Ironman Hawai'i races.

TANYA FLORIN, 34, PHARMACEUTICAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE:

"I watched my first Ironman race in 1998 and never thought in a MILLION YEARS that I could finish (or even attempt to start) one!" She has finished eight Ironman races.

DANIEL FUJII, 50, ENGINEER:

"My two daughters (Lauren, 19, and Leslie, 17) have been supportive, but they think that their dad does strange stuff ... the most strange is wearing a wet suit for the Canada IM. (They say,) 'Most Dad's don't do stuff like this! Aren't you too old for this?' " This is his first Ironman.

KIM HILL, 24, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, CORESYSTEMS HAWAII:

"Completing an Ironman has always been a dream of mine. After the race I may begin the journey to my next or I may never want to do another. It all depends on how my body responds to the distance." This is her first Ironman.

KERRY IWAMURO, 45, PURCHASING AGENT:

"I'm glad I'm not married or have a significant other ... I can see how (training) can ruin relationships!" This will be his first Ironman.

LILIAN KANAI, 46, PHYSICIAN (ANESTHESIOLOGIST) AT QUEEN'S:

It took her seven years to overcome her fear of the water. "Although I do have my moments of freaking out, for the most part I have conquered that fear and when it does surface its ugly head, I am able to handle it." She has completed one Ironman.

RENEAU KENNEDY, 51, FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST:

At last year's Canada Ironman, approximately 40 miles into the bike, her shoe clip fell off and she was no longer able to stay clipped to the pedal. "They duct taped my foot to the pedal of the bike so I could make it the remainder of the ride. Where there is a will there is a way." She's done one Ironman.

NANI LIU, 35-39 AGE DIVISION, SALES & MARKETING EXECUTIVE:

Diagnosed with patella tendinitis in June, she decided to continue training, with help from friends and the Boca group. "It is about the journey, the people, and the goal and determination to get to the start line and to finish regardless of my time." Has completed two Ironman races.

RICHARD MAY, 34, FINANCIAL ADVISER:

"I'm setting some competitive goals. I'll push myself to finish top 10 percent of every race I enter. We'll see ... " This will be his first Ironman.

CHUCK MILLER, 60, PHYSICIAN, CHIEF, DIVISION OF HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY, KAISER MEDICAL CENTER:

"While training for Ironman Canada, had a cycling accident on Windward shore. It set me back for over three weeks, but I recovered and feel stronger than ever." This is his first Ironman.

JULIA PAE OKINAKA, 31, CONSULTANT, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP:

She did her first half-Ironman on her first wedding anniversary. "My wonderful, pampering husband fixed me breakfast, pumped my tires, massaged my legs, took our photos, and stood in the scorching Kona sun for six hours waiting for me to cross the finish line!" This will be her first Ironman.

KAREN OSHIRO, 41, ACCOUNT TRAINER:

"We were dubbed the "Cotton T-shirt Group" because we didn't have cycling jerseys and wore T-shirts. In our schedule Raul specifically addressed our group by writing, 'Sleeved jerseys only, no cotton T-shirts.' We've come a long way since then." This is her first Ironman.

STEFAN REINKE, 47, ATTORNEY:

"Though I am getting slower with time, I am enjoying the training process more than ever." He has done five Ironman races.

SALLY RUPERT, 30, CHEMISTRY TEACHER, ASSETS HIGH SCHOOL:

She went for a 100-mile bike ride with two sisters (50 miles each). One sister got a flat tire after a mile. The other (who had two flat tires) "caught the bus and I rode the last 40 miles alone!" This is her first Ironman.

ERIC SANDERS, 43, OFFICE MANAGER, SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION:

"The friendships that I have formed made this a phenomenal experience so far. Completing the race while discovering a new part of the world will be icing on the cake." This will be his first Ironman.

JOY SECRITARIO, 41, NURSE MANAGER, THE QUEEN'S MEDICAL CENTER:

"I'm a mother of 14-year-old triplets. Raising the triplets was, and still is my first triathlon." She has done one Ironman.

ASAKO SHIMAZU, ENTERING AGE GROUP 35-39, ATTORNEY:

"Growing up in urban Tokyo, I was never an athlete; in those days, a workout would be to run from one platform to another in order to catch a subway or train. So training has been such an unthinkable leap and great adventure for me." This is her first Ironman.

BRENDA WONG YIM, 47, CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR AT HUSBAND'S MEDICAL PRACTICE:

"With the support of so many friends and fellow athletes, I feel confident to cross the finish line safe enough to return home to my patient and loving family!" This will be her first Ironman.