Methods and systems for parallel decoding Run Length Limited (RLL) encoded datastreams is disclosed. In one embodiment, a decoding system includes a parsing system, a first decoder, and a second decoder. The parsing system receives a Run Length Limited (RLL) encoded datastream and identifies a first header and a following header from the datastream. The first header defines a first number of subsequent data blocks and a first RLL encoding of the first number of data blocks. The following header defines a following number of subsequent data blocks and a following RLL encoding of the following number of data blocks. The first decoder is operable to decode the first number of data blocks based on the first encoding and the second decoder is operable to decode the following number of data blocks based on the following encoding in parallel with the first decoder to generate an output.