```ts
// solution.ts

export function runLengthEncode(input: string): string {
  if (typeof input !== 'string') throw new Error('Input must be a string');

  if (input.length === 0) return '';

  let encoded = '';
  let count = 1;
  for (let i = 1; i <= input.length; i++) {
    if (input[i] === input[i - 1]) {
      count++;
    } else {
      encoded += input[i - 1] + count.toString();
      count = 1;
    }
  }

  return encoded.slice(-(encoded.match(/\d+$/)?.[0]!.length || 3)); // Truncate to three digits
}
```