A run-length limited (RLL) encoder includes a block detection module that receives a data block that includes N portions and generates N-1 coding bits indicating whether corresponding ones of N-1 of the N portions of the data block include one of all ones and all zeros, where N is an integer greater than two. A mapping module generates an RLL codeword including N portions comprising bits that are determined by a first mapping table, a second mapping table, bits of the data block and the N-1 coding bits.